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Environmental Enforcement Officers and Essex Police Rural Engagement Team took part in an operation to crackdown rural crime
Environmental Enforcement Officers – part of Epping Forest District Council’s Community Resilience Team – joined forces with Essex Police Rural Engagement Team in London Road, Stapleford Abbotts to tackle unauthorised waste carriers, fly tipping and other crimes impacting the rural community.
Twenty vehicles were stopped during the operation.
- One fixed penalty notice was issued for no insurance
- One fixed penalty notice for an expired driving licence
- One vehicle was seized for no insurance
- One arrest was made for a positive roadside drugs wipe test
- Six vehicles were suspected of committing waste offences and will be issued notices to produce their authority to transport waste and waste transfer notes. Failure to do so will result in fixed penalty notices or prosecution.
Take action
Cllr Holly Whitbread, Portfolio Holder for Housing & Community Services said:
Rural fly tipping is a blight on the countryside, and costs landowners across the East of England on average £1000 per incident. Essex County Council tax payers pay over £1 million a year to clear fly tipping from the Highway and other Council-owned land.
Our Environmental Enforcement Team will continue to take action, where appropriate, in conjunction with partner organisations, to ensure that waste is removed by licensed waste carriers and disposed of responsibly.
How you can help
Residents and business can help by ensuring that they:
- Ask to see a waste carrier registration number issued by the Environment Agency. It is illegal for them to take your waste if they don’t have a licence.
- Get a receipt or transfer notice before the waste is taken away. Businesses that produce commercial waste must keep records for two years.
- Ask where your waste is going and request paperwork that shows where it will be disposed. A legitimate waste carrier will not object to this questioning.
- Never leave rubbish, such as old washing machines or scrap metal on the drive or in the street as it could end up in the wrong hands. Working items can be donated to reuse organisations or charity shops, during opening hours, and not deposited outside when the shop is closed.
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