IN today's (March 3) edition of the Bucks Free Press there is an advertisement addressed specifically to householders informing them of their responsibilities in the disposal of waste removed from their premises by contractors.
The advertisement also states that it is the householder's responsibility to: (a) make sure the contractor who is used is registered with the Environmental Agency, and (b) to record the registration number of the vehicle being used to remove the waste, and that if this is not done the householder will be prosecuted with a possible fine of up to £5,000 should the waste be dumped. Why should the householder be responsible if a contractor breaks the law by dumping waste instead of disposing of it legally?
As it is householders already do a great deal to help local authorities by sorting, binning, and putting out for collection, paper and glass, we take plastic, cans and garden waste to the recycling centre. The rest of the household waste (at least in our area) has to be put in the refuse bin, the contents of which goes into landfill. Now we are being asked to monitor contractors' credentials to ensure they are not illegally dumping waste material.
Are small local businesses like plumbers, bricklayers, etc, expected to register as "waste carriers", and in the process have to deal with even more paperwork? More bureaucracy?
On the subject of waste, would it not be much more useful if the local authorities and the retail industry harangued the producers of goods to reduce the amount of packaging used?
For example, a packet of biscuits can often be enclosed in three types of wrapping. I'm sure the amount of waste disposed of in landfill sites would reduce by a third if manufacturers and producers of material goods didn't use so much wrapping.
This is a subject that should be looked at much more closely by authorities concerned with waste disposal.
Mrs Heather Rodrick, Prestwood
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