Got grand designs? Do your duty and avoid a fine

Have you got grand designs this summer? Whether you’re doing up your house, getting your dream kitchen or building an awesome extension it pays to know the rules when it comes to your waste. Or you could risk a hefty fine.

If your builder takes the waste away and they don’t dispose of it properly, it’s you who can be fined up to £400. To avoid being hit in the wallet, you need to do two things:

1. check your builder is a registered waste carrier, and
2. obtain a receipt for the disposal of your waste.

If a builder doesn’t dispose of your waste properly, it’s fly-tipping. Your local council must clear away fly-tipped waste and that costs taxpayers’ money that could be spent on much better things. You can also help by reporting any fly-tipping you see to your local council.

If a builder doesn’t dispose of your waste properly, it’s fly-tipping. In Surrey there are serious consequences for fly-tippers including fines of up to £50,000 or imprisonment for 12 months. And with every fly-tipping court case in Surrey resulting in a guilty verdict, it’s a risk not worth taking.

For more information on fly-tipping, to report an incident or find out how to check if a trader is licensed, visit surreyep.org.uk/fly-tipping.