Neath Port Talbot Council has taken part in a multi-agency operation to tackle illegal waste carriers.

Staff from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Waste Enforcement, Trading Standards and Licensing teams, took part in the operation supported by members of South Wales Police’s Neighbourhood Policing, Roads Policing and Arson Reduction teams.

Operation Crossfield, on September 17th, stopped a total 23 commercial vehicles and offered advice and leaflets to the drivers. Details gathered as part of the operation will be shared with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who will carry out further checks on waste licences.

One of the vehicles stopped was caught in the act of carrying waste without a licence and was issued a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice.

Trading Standards officers gave appropriate advice on waste contracts and cooling off periods while licensing colleagues spoke about the legal requirements for anybody collecting scrap. Both teams will carry out further investigations to determine any possible offences.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, Cllr Ted Latham, said: “Illegal waste carriers are advertising on social media sites as waste collectors, offering house clearance services, garden waste services and scrap metal collection. They are vastly undercutting the prices charged by legitimate waste carriers as they are taking the waste to illegal waste sites or just fly tipping it in the community.

“If the message isn’t already clear, illegal waste operators of any kind, will not be tolerated within NPT and with this collaborative working approach, anybody who carries out these crimes will be caught.”

If you carry waste or scrap metal as part of your business you may need to register as a Waste Carrier with NRW. There is a two-tier system based on the level of risk. Carrying waste without being registered could lead to a fine of up £5,000. The maximum penalties for fly tipping are a fine of £50,000 and five years in prison.

Richie Vaughan-Williams, Arson Reduction Team Manager, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said.

“Waste crime poses a real challenge for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service with crews from across our service area attending hundreds of deliberate refuse fires each year. All too often these fires are the result of illegal waste carriers fly tipping waste in our communities as well as dumping this waste at illegal waste sites, where it is then burnt, with no consideration to the nuisance this repeated burning, smoke and pollution causes to people living in that community, as well as the potential environmental impact pollution from these uncontrolled sites can cause. Every time a fire crew has to attend a deliberate fire it could potentially be delayed in attending what could be a life threatening emergency.

“The local authority, South Wales Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service are committed to keeping our communities safe and we will work together to target those responsible for these crimes.”

You can register as a waste carrier either online at: https://naturalresources.wales/permits-and-permissions/waste-permitting/register-as-a-waste-carrier-broker-or-dealer/?lang=en

or by phoning NRW on 0300 065 3000.