Rise in Hartlepool garden fires and flytipping prompts legal warning

The responsibility facing them includes ensuring that any contractor removing items such as garden or DIY waste is fully licensed to do so.

Hartlepool Borough Council warns it has enforcement powers under nuisance legislation to deal with open fires that cause or are likely to cause excessive smoke or noxious fumes.

The council said in a statement: “It is the responsibility of householders/businesses to be sure that a contractor is licensed before allowing any waste to be removed from their premises.

“This follows an increase in complaints relating to flytipping and open burning of rubbish.

“The authority recently took a decision not to restart kerbside garden waste collections (brown bins) following the usual winter break to ease pressure on frontline services and to ensure that household non-recyclable waste

and recycling collections (green and grey bins) can continue as normal.

“It has also followed Government guidance on social isolation and, in line with other local authorities across the UK, has closed its household waste recycling centre, in Burn Road, as driving to the site is not classified as essential travel.

“Residents are asked to continue to place household non-recyclable and recyclable waste in the appropriate bins for collection, while other waste such as bulky items and DIY waste should be stored at home until waste disposal facilities reopen.

“They are also being advised to consider home composting of garden waste, and subsidised composting bins, water butts and composting accessories can be ordered online for home delivery.”

Government figures published earlier this year suggest that the council has spent more than £500,000 in less than a decade tackling flytipping.

For residents who don’t have or want a container, it is recommended that they store their garden waste in a neat heap in the corner of their garden, remembering to keep turning it so it is aerated.

They can also leave grass cuttings on their lawn where they will mulch down to provide key nutrients for the grass.

Information on buying water butt and composting accessories is available at www.teesvalley.getcomposting.com.

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