Facebook users who book people from buy and sell pages or community groups to clear rubbish, waste and unwanted items could end up becoming 'accidental criminals', authorities have warned.
The Environment Agency has said it is becoming concerned about the number of 'man and van' adverts and self-promotion posts on Facebook, which offer to take away people's rubbish.
But they will often have no waste carriers' licence, and there is no guarantee the rubbish will go to an authorised site.
And because it's the responsibility of the person whose waste is being taken away to check if the person taking it has the proper licences, then if the waste is traced back to you, you could end up with a fine, the Environment Agency has warned.
That has happened to many people across the Bristol region in the past few years, and it's on the increase now, as council tighten up the rules about who can access household waste tips and when.
"Waste carriers, like other licensed trades, are required to register and operate in line with a set of rules that protect the environment and their customers," said a spokesperson for the Environment Agency.
"These rules include disposing of waste in the right place, storing it safely and keeping accurate records of transfer and disposal.
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"Registered waste carriers in the South West have become concerned about the number of ‘man and van’ adverts and self-promotion on Facebook and other social media platforms offering to take away people’s rubbish.
"If these traders don’t have a waste carriers’ licence, there is no guarantee rubbish will go to an authorised site. Instead, it could end up dumped on the side of the road or burned in a field, causing environmental damage. And the person who hired the unregistered trader could face a criminal charge," he added.
The fine could be up to £400 - and you can be fined if it is decided that you have failed to meet the duty of care to ensure your waste is being disposed of legally.
Last summer, a woman in Bristol was fined after huge piles of her rubbish ended up dumped on a street in Hartcliffe.
The Environment Agency said before hiring someone to remove waste, householders should check their credentials online here.
“Rogue traders using social media to con people into parting with their waste are the new door steppers. People are then discovering their waste has turned up in a country lane or beside the road," said Ed Troughton, from the Environment Agency.
"These illegal waste carriers undermine legitimate businesses, undercut their prices and blight the environment.
“We want people to take three steps to check whether the collector has a waste carriers’ license from the Environment Agency: ask where the rubbish will end up, don't pay cash and insist on a receipt, then record the details of the vehicle used to take the rubbish away.
“If people suspect criminal activity, they should report it on our hotline 0800 807060 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111 and give as much detail as possible. Let’s work together to stamp out waste crime and protect on our beautiful countryside.”
