Householders across Great Yarmouth are being reminded to make sure they carry out the right checks before handing waste to doorstep waste collectors – after one resident was left with a court bill of £720.

On July 19, 2016, waste was found dumped along Sandy Lane, Belton. Evidence found among the rubbish led Great Yarmouth Borough Council environmental rangers to the home of Natasha Dilley, in Gordon Road, Southtown.

She admitted the waste was collected from her address by two men and that she did not check whether they were licensed collectors.

At Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court, Dilley, aged 41, pleaded guilty to breaching the householder duty of care by not transferring her waste to an authorised person.

She was ordered to pay £720 in costs.

Anyone who collects waste must legally have a waste carrier licence from the Environment Agency. In addition, householders have a legal duty of care to check that anyone taking waste from their home has a waste carrier licence.

Carl Smith, chairman of the borough council’s environment committee, said: “Unlicensed waste collectors usually charge attractive fees and then fly-tip waste, rather than pay to dispose of it responsibly.

“A resident who uses an unlicensed collector could be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000, if dumped waste can be traced back to them.

“In these cases, the council’s Environmental Rangers will seek to investigate and prosecute the unlicensed collector, as well as the householder, but normally the collector cannot be identified because the resident has made no checks.

“So the main message is: If you’re looking to find someone to remove waste from your home and the price seems too good to be true, think carefully and ask to see their licence, even if they are a ‘friend of a friend’ or someone on social media offering to do ‘tip runs’.

“Always ask to see their licence and double check it on the Environment Agency’s public register before allowing them to take your waste. If they can’t show it, report them to the authorities – we would much rather catch them than prosecute householders.”

People can call the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 to request an instant waste carrier validation check, or check the public register online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/publicregister

Anyone who witnesses an environmental crime in the borough or has information that may help to identify an offender should contact the Environmental Rangers. The quickest way to report is to download the Report IT GY App, or you can call 01493 846478. What they need is as much information as possible, such as the date, time, location, description of the person, and the vehicle registration number, if applicable.