Homeowners face £400 fly-tipping fines if rogue firms used
Homeowners could be fined £400 if rogue firms are paid to illegally dump rubbish across Sandwell.
It follows concerns people are using unlicensed waste-carriers to take waste away which is later being dumped.
Environmental protection officers have already issued 165 £400 fines to people caught fly-tipping since in May 2017.
But now council bosses want to extend these powers directly to doorsteps in a bid to tidy up the borough.
It comes after the Express & Star revealed 11,012 fly-tipping cases were reported in Sandwell in two years - equating to 111 a week.
Council leader, Councillor Yvonne Davies, said: “The introduction of these new penalties will help officers in the fight against the growing problem of fly-tipping, which is a huge national issue.
“The new fines will significantly strengthen our approach to tackling fly-tipping and make householders think twice about who they get to dispose of items.
“Sandwell has been a trailblazer in the West Midlands for dealing with fly-tipping, including environmental enforcement, and the new penalties will ensure we have extra powers to further improve our response.”
She added: “I think people will welcome the extra fines because fly-tipping is really anti-social and disgraceful.
"If people refuse to pay door-to-door callers to dispose of their waste, this will help us tackle the situation.”
The council already uses CCTV cameras to monitor fly-tipping hotspots which helps officers identify and fine culprits.
Homeowners will still be able to use waste-carriers without breaking the law - but only by employing licensed ones.
These licensed waste-carriers will provide customers with receipts and relevant paperwork work.
The council has urged residents not to use door-to-door callers to dispose of waste.
The new enforcement powers are set to be rubber-stamped by Sandwell Council's cabinet chiefs at a meeting on January 8, after the move was recommended for approval.
It will allow fixed penalty notices to be dished out to homeowners - who breach a duty of care to dispose of their waste - under Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
