Wiltshire businesses reminded to dispose of waste correctly
A company was recently handed three fixed penalty notices, totalling £1,600
Businesses in Wiltshire are being reminded to make sure they get rid of their rubbish at commercial waste disposal sites, rather than household recycling centres (HRCs).
Wiltshire Council is warning that companies failing to comply could be prosecuted for fly-tipping or issued fixed penalty notices (FPNs), which could be up to £1,000.
It follows a business being handed FPNs which added up to £1,600 for putting commercial waste in street litter bins, not holding a valid waste carriers' licence for transporting waste and not being able to provide waste transfer documents detailing where their waste is taken to.
The organisation can't be named as FPNs are not court convictions.
HRCs are only for householders in Wiltshire to use and they're not licensed to take commercial waste, no matter the size of the organisation or the amount of waste.
The council says any waste collected from a business is deemed to be commercial waste and must be taken to commercial waste disposal sites. This includes ‘man with a van’ waste collection services who advertise on social media.
All businesses have a duty of care for the waste that they produce, regardless of their size, they must:
• ensure that waste is stored, transported and disposed of, or recycled safely and legally
• have a waste collection contract in place
• obtain waste transfer notes (WTNs) when passing waste on.
Waste transfer notes are legal documents that prove a company has passed waste on to a business that has the appropriate licence to collect it. These documents must be kept for a period of at least two years by law.
Wiltshire's Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Dominic Muns, says its part of their Stop at Source campaign which aims to educate businesses and residents about correctly managing waste.
He said: “Any waste that is produced from a commercial activity is classed as commercial waste, and businesses have a legal duty to ensure it is handled and disposed of in the proper manner, and not at either a household recycling centre or in public litter bins.
“Our household recycling centres are funded by council taxpayers and are solely for the use of our residents and for household waste. Not only is it illegal for businesses to dispose of their waste at the HRCs, it would not be fair on taxpayers to be subsidising business waste in this way.
“Commercial waste collections are not included within business rates, so all businesses, no matter how big or small, must also have a waste collection contract in place, even if it is from a small business who may only produce a bag of waste/recycling every month or so. A charge to all businesses within business rates wouldn't be fair as those who produce little waste would end up paying for those who produce a lot.”
Businesses who use an HRC site are liable to a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £1,000 and a £300 FPN for failing to obtain waste transfer notes. Businesses who transport waste without a valid waste carriers’ licence could be issued with a £300 FPN.
More information about correct waste disposal an be found here.