Trading Standards alert
Recent reports of fly-tipping with unlicensed waste carriers offering cheap rubbish removal, have prompted the warning to residents to verify waste carrier licences to maintain the duty of care.
At this time of year, as many of us tend to our gardens and DIY projects, we typically end up with more garden and bulky waste to dispose of. Some of this waste may be sadly dumped by unlicensed waste carriers inadvertently hired by residents or businesses, causing an increase in fly tipping crime.
Waste that has been unlawfully disposed of can leave residents and businesses liable for a potential fine, even when they have paid in good faith. To avoid this, make sure to only hire a registered waste carrier and learn how to spot the signs of an unlicensed waste carrier or collector.
Warning signs of an unlicensed waste collector:
- Cash-only payments
- No paperwork or receipts
- No business address or contact details
- Very low prices (compared with legitimate carriers)
- Unmarked vehicles
Protect yourself:
Residents and businesses are responsible for ensuring their waste is handled lawfully and therefore must make thorough checks to maintain their duty of care. For more information on duty of care, please visit the council website. Residents and businesses should always check that any trader offering waste removal is a registered waste carrier. This can be verified via the Environment Agency Waste Carrier Register which is available online.
If a trader does not provide their Waste Carrier Registration Number, they should not be used under any circumstances. Fly-tipping can result in legal action against the person who hired the unlicensed waste collector, particularly in cases where the person does not respond to the council’s enquiries or where they cannot demonstrate their duty of care, with residents and businesses needing to make checks that the waste collector being used is bona fide.
Bromley Council waste collection:
To support residents with the disposal of garden waste at this time of the year, please see the locations and operating times of our weekend recycling sites which are now open. Residents are also encouraged to subscribe for regular garden waste collection throughout the gardening season via the garden waste collection service.
Bromley Council offers waste collection services, and residents can book collections for garden waste and bulky waste via the council website. Residents can also visit the council’s recycling sites this Spring, these include the Church fields Road Reuse and Recycling Centre as well as the Baths Road Weekend Reuse and Recycling Centre, with booking details and fees available on the council website.
Residents are also advised that they can use the council’s Trading Standards Checked scheme to hire a verified trader for gardening and other home maintenance work, such as landscaping, roofing, etc.
Report, advice, and guidance:
Report unlicensed waste carrier anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or on the council website. Report fly-tipping and other enviro-crime to Bromley Council on the council website – up to £500 from the Enviro-crime Reward Scheme is available to anyone whose evidence is used to successfully prosecute offenders.
You can also visit the council website for more Trading Standards advice on doorstep crime and other useful information.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website. Businesses can register or renew waste carrier licences via the GOV.UK website. For general information about scams in various languages visit the Friends Against Scams website. Bromley Trading Standards
To keep up with the latest scam alerts and warnings from Bromley Trading Standards sign up on http://www.bromley.gov.uk/TradingStandardsAlertSignUpForm.
Bromley Trading Standards also runs a fair-trader directory to help you find a safe, reliable trader that you can trust, visit http://www.bromley.gov.uk/tradingstandardschecked to learn more.
Published: 18th March 2026