Wiltshire Council is reminding residents to dispose of their waste responsibly and only use licensed waste carriers, following a recent fly-tipping incident in Melksham that resulted in a £600 fixed penalty notice (FPN).

The council’s Stop at Source (SAS) campaign continues to reduce fly-tipping across the county by holding householders accountable for their duty of care when disposing of waste. The zero-tolerance approach ensures that residents understand the risks of using unlicensed collectors.

In the recent case, a Melksham resident paid £10 to a passing tipper van to remove waste after placing non-recyclable items in the wrong bin. The waste was later found dumped in a hedge less than half a mile away. As the resident was unable to provide the waste carrier’s licence number, vehicle registration, or a receipt, they were held liable and issued a fine.

This incident highlights the importance of avoiding quick and cheap waste disposal solutions which are often advertised on social media and reinforces the need to report any known instances of fly-tipping to the council.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “People need to know that they can still be held accountable if their waste is fly-tipped by someone else. Householders have a duty of care to ensure their waste is handled by licensed collectors. We have accessible household recycling centres that residents can use instead.

“If you’re worried about the risk of fly-tipping, protect yourself by checking the waste carrier’s licence, taking the vehicle’s details, and getting a receipt. These simple steps help Stop the issue at Source.

“We have a clear message on waste disposal: we will prosecute perpetrators of fly-tipping. This is an environmental crime that must be tackled to protect our countryside.”

To find out more about fly-tipping prevention or to report an incident, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.