Is it illegal to Put Rubbish in Someone’s Skip?
Finding an empty or half-filled skip on a neighbor’s driveway might be likened to discovering something useful where you can throw your personal unwanted waste into. But think about the consequences before you give in to the urge to throw your rubbish in there.
The short answer is yes. Using someone else’s skip without their consent is not just unpleasant but is against the law. The customer and the skip supplier, enter into a skip hiring agreement. A provision defining who is permitted to use the skip which typically is the person who has rented it, is usually included in this agreement.
At Zero Waste Group we help you prevent getting into trouble with the law due to carelessness when disposing of waste. Email us on info@zerowastegroup.co.uk or call 0345 241 6055 to book in a skip to dispose of waste the correct way. Or to learn more about the legalities of disposing of rubbish.
Legal Stance
The main law governing waste management in England, Scotland, and Wales is the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA). It contains clauses that create legal obligations for waste management and make it unlawful to dispose of rubbish without permission. This includes it being unlawful to dispose of domestic or commercial waste, in someone else’s skip without permission from the owner of the skip hire.
Risks and Consequences
- Can be fined from £400 to £5000
- The skip hirer may have to pay more if the waste added is not permitted which complicates the recycling process. The service provider may also refuse to collect the skip
- Can face a prison sentence depending on severity
- Illegal dumping may disturb ecosystems, contaminate soil and water, and damage native plants and animals due to overfilled skips
Services We Offer
At Zero Waste Group, offer many different rubbish removal services so that you do not have to think about dumping waste in other people’s skips. Some of the services we offer are:
