HOUSEHOLDERS in the Felsted area are being warned to be wary of cold-callers who offer to dispose of their waste.

Essex Police has received reports that individuals have been visiting homes offering to remove rubbish, an activity which has coincided with an increase of fly-tipping around Felsted.

Uttlesford District Council (UDC), which is running a campaign to raise awareness of litter and fly-tipping issues, will investigate every report of fly-tipping it receives, and will take action to prosecute accordingly.

Chairman of the council’s environment committee, Cllr Susan Barker, said: “Fly-tipping is a selfish act that spoils the countryside for everyone else.

“Fortunately most people are decent enough to not even consider committing this crime, but it’s also important to exercise vigilance when someone is offering to dispose of rubbish on your behalf.”

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his or her waste is disposed of properly. If you let a company take your waste away, the onus is on you to ensure that they are a legitimate waste carrier.

This “duty of care” means you should always ask to see a person’s waste carrier number to ensure they are a registered carrier, before entrusting them to dispose of your waste.

Otherwise, if your rubbish is fly-tipped, and you cannot demonstrate that you made reasonable efforts to ensure it was disposed of properly, you could be fined up to �5000.

Neighbourhood constable for Felsted, Pc Rachael Saunders, said: “We have seen an increase in fly-tipping in the area recently, and we are determined to bring an end to it. It causes an eyesore and is unfair on residents who have to live in the area.

“We have also had reports of strangers ‘cold calling’ local residents and offering to take waste away from your property.

“However, if that waste is then disposed of illegally and can be traced back to you, then you will be considered responsible. So we would urge everyone to ensure that they know who is disposing of their waste.”

If you have any information about people engaged in illegal fly-tipping, contact UDC on 01799 510510 or officers in Saffron Walden or Dunmow police stations on 0300 333 4444.