Norfolk cracks down on waste dumping traders

People disposing of trade and commercial waste at domestic recycling sites are being targeted by the Norfolk County Council.

By depositing the waste at one of the county’s 19 recycling centres organisations are hoping to dodge the cost of disposing of their waste and costing Norfolk taxpayers an estimated £1 million a year.

Over the summer suspected traders were approached, with half of those now currently investigation, with the potential fine of £50,000 hanging over their heads.

Using CCTV with automatic number plate recognition at the Norfolk waste management centres, authorities were able to identify suspected rogue traders.

Ian Monson, cabinet member for environment and waste said: "The County Council is sending out a strong message that our recycling centres are not a ’soft touch’ for people trying to avoid paying for waste generated by their trade or business.

"We estimate that it is costing Norfolk’s tax payers more than £1 million year to get rid of illegal business waste and residents should not have to foot this bill."

Authorities in Norfolk recently reassured residents that their recycling was going to recycling plants and not to landfill and that the destination of all waste was known. The assertions were made after a Tonight programme suggested authorities did not know where waste ended up.