Waste disposal – Useful information
Fly-tipping is a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment, a blot on Somerset’s lovely landscape and a potential threat to human health and that of wildlife and domesticated animals through injury or by polluting the environment.
There is no excuse for fly-tipping and we all need to fight it together.
The advice is simple:
- Never fly-tip yourself
- Check that anyone taking waste away for you has the right licence and ask them where the waste will go
- Never pay cash
- Always get a proper receipt and a copy of the “waste transfer note”
- Record names, contact details and information about vehicles
- Take particular care in using social media to get waste removed
You can check they are registered as a ‘waste carrier, broker or dealer’ with the Environment Agency online
Note: “fully licensed” criminals can still fly-tip.
If you see fly-tipping take no risks. Do not touch anything fly-tipped or approach fly-tippers, but when it is safe, please contact council customer services at Somerset Council with any details.
This can include:
- the amount fly-tipped
- possible contents from a visual check only
- the location
- time and date
- whether it is in or near water
- information about those who may be responsible, such as vehicle type, colour and registration number
You can report fly-tipping anonymously, but your evidence could be vital to ensure a fly-tipper is caught and convicted, so that levels of fly-tipping are reduced. Just knowing that someone is prepared to give evidence may convince an offender to admit their guilt.
There is no excuse for fly-tipping
Got lots to recycle?
Do not overload your boxes, bags and bins.
Sort, plan, and options not instructions: either (if safe space) put it out over time or (if you wish and have time, transport or help) drop it all off at a recycle site.
Recycle sites are on their usual schedules, with all 16 open Saturday and Sunday 9am-4pm.
Gloves advised, mask if possible, sort ahead, no idling in queues.
Quieter times: weekdays 1-2pm and 3-5pm.
Full information:
Recycle collections: recycling-collections
Recycle sites: recycling – centres
Fighting fly-tipping: fly-tipping
Do more online 24/7 at somerset.gov.uk
Check collection days via My Collection Day
and via My Waste Services:
■ Order any recycle container free
■ Log missed collections after 7pm
■ Pay for asbestos/plasterboard
■ Order paid bulky waste pick-up
■ Sort clinical/assisted collections
■ Get recycle site van/trailer permit
■ Send comments about services
■ Request waste container removal