Residents and businesses are urged to be vigilant when employing traders to dispose of their waste or risk a fixed penalty fine of £400.

To avoid prosecution, residents and business who are getting someone else to take their waste away should follow these steps:

Residents and businesses should also be particularly vigilant if a trader knocks on their door and offers to take the waste away.

Flytipping is a blight on the environment and expensive for the taxpayer who ultimately pays for it to be cleared up. That’s why in Surrey 100% of flytippers who go to court are convicted. Punishment can result in a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months in prison.

To report flytipping in progress call Surrey Police on 999. In other cases: