Did he break the law?

SpellowHouse

SpellowHouse

SpellowHouse

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Just a question here about a guy who cut my hedges. He cleared off after he was paid, leaving three cubic meters of cuttings in bags in two car parks. One is certainly private, the other I am not sure about. Did he break any laws doing this, or am I screwed?
Yeah, I know, I was stupid, but I kinda assumed he wasn't going to drop the bags and run!
 
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The first question (also from a legal standpoint) is whether the disposal of the waste was an agreed part of the job? If it wasn't then he could argue that he was just cutting the hedge and it's the home owner responsibility for disposal.

If it was, have you not followed up a question with asking when he's planning to dispose of the waste?
 
Yes it’s fly tipping. If there’s any evidence of your details, you will be fined. As people who pay for companies to take rubbish away and then fly tip it, the people get fined. https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/news/man-heavily-fined-for-using-unlicensed-waste-carrier#:~:text=“Every%20householder%20has%20a%20duty,will%20be%20you%20facing%20prosecution.

If there’s CCTV in the car parks, the management companies or councils can use the footage to fine the guy who trimmed your hedges

Probably doesn’t have a waste permit which you can check here https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers.

As a litter womble myself and other fellow Wombles have found fly tipping with stuff with addresses or invoices. Took photos of these and sent on an app called Love Clean Streets which is then passed onto the council covering that patch. If invoices are found, councils can ask the company issuing the invoice for more information.
 
It amazes me how people don’t bother to remove their details on their courier delivery packaging.

Found a fly tip with rubbish inside two large Amazon boxes with the name and address still on them!

Then on a couple of occasions on wombling, I have found a stray empty courier package with label still intact. If address is nearby, I write “I only come back to you as you didn’t remove your name and address from me” and either pop it into their letter box or propped by their door.
 
Yeah, ask him. If he's gone to the trouble of bagging it up then that would imply he's going to deal with it. He would have to pay to take it to local waste disposal, so is possibly accumulating from several jobs to reduce the overall cost.
 
Waste removal is usually up to the client with the gardeners I know. What is it he's left, three dumpy bags full ? You can get a dumpy bag in even a small car, so if you drive, maybe 2 or 3 tip runs to clear.
 
Local tip now charges for garden waste. But yes unless you have an agreement for disposal and he has a waste disposal licence, your ass may be grass as they say in gardening circles.
 
SpellowHouse said:
Just a question here about a guy who cut my hedges. He cleared off after he was paid, leaving three cubic meters of cuttings in bags in two car parks. One is certainly private, the other I am not sure about. Did he break any laws doing this, or am I screwed?
Yeah, I know, I was stupid, but I kinda assumed he wasn't going to drop the bags and run!
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Almost certainly gypos,

They’re not beholden to any laws so it doesn’t matter.

You’re not screwed - just be glad there’s not a pile of turds to clean up along with the hedge cuttings!
 
Hagar said:
Local tip now charges for garden waste. But yes unless you have an agreement for disposal and he has a waste disposal licence, your ass may be grass as they say in gardening circles.
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Councils charging for deposing certain types of waste has certainly encouraged fly tipping. It costs councils MORE to collect the fly tipping and if evidence of the culprits, to investigate and fine them than the cost received at the tips.

Also I don't understand why people order a large item such as beds, washing machines etc don't pay the company money to take the old one away. My parents had a new dishwasher earlier this year. They paid the company £15 to take old one away. Council charge £25 an item for bulky waste plus an additional £5 for other items. So three items - £30. It should be made law that every retailer of white goods, beds, sofas etc takes the old stuff away FOC. Plus items like this should never be given to people to take home themselves unless they have proof that its disposed and not dumped on their driveway for months on end or dumped as fly tipping.

Family friend decided to take his old dishwasher to the tip. He damaged the boot locking system and headliner (car fabric ceiling) on removing washer from car - cost him £400. Wife was not pleased!
 
If you don't agree them doing disposal, they won't take it.

Most councils charge for commercial waste, so you should always check whether they're taking your cuttings/ rubbish as part of the price.

On disposal of white goods, I just leave them out on the pavement and the scrapie takes them (except fridges/ freezers). Everyone wins.
 
SpellowHouse said:
Just a question here about a guy who cut my hedges. He cleared off after he was paid, leaving three cubic meters of cuttings in bags in two car parks. One is certainly private, the other I am not sure about. Did he break any laws doing this, or am I screwed?
Yeah, I know, I was stupid, but I kinda assumed he wasn't going to drop the bags and run!
Click to expand...


www.youtube.com

Ren And Stimpy - CALL THE POLICE

From the Rubber Nipple Salesmen episode.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
Did you ask to see his waste carriers license? if not then you haven't done your due diligence and it's your property that you have dumped by law.
 
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