When you throw something away, your responsibility doesn't end at the kerbside.

The District Council has launched the Your Waste, Your Responsibility campaign during Keep Britain Tidy's Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight, which runs 12 to 25 October 2026.

The campaign aims to help you understand your legal duty of care when disposing of unwanted household waste and provide practical advice on how to do so legally.

Fly-tipping harms our communities, damages the environment and costs taxpayers’ money to clear up. From checking that a waste carrier is licensed to using the correct disposal services, small actions can make a big difference. By taking a few simple steps before disposing of your waste, you can help prevent fly-tipping and ensure your unwanted items are managed responsibly.

Most people want to do the right thing and believe they are when booking a collection. Often, the ‘white van’ operators selling a waste disposal service for an affordable price are not licensed waste carriers, which can result in fly-tipping in rural areas. You'll likely come across them on social media, or a leaflet through your door.

Check it. Trust it. Prove it.

A simple slogan at the heart of our campaign, highlights the important role residents can play in preventing waste from ending up in the countryside, villages and public spaces by ensuring anyone they pay to remove waste is legally authorised to do so.

• Check that you are using a licensed waste carrier, via the Environment Agency waste carrier register.
• Trust that you are handing over your waste to be responsibly disposed of.
• Keep proof of receipt or the waste transfer document.

The campaign will target local social media groups as this is often where residents will seek waste collection services. It will remind people of their responsibilities and encouraging them to:

Check that anyone collecting waste on their behalf is a licensed waste carrier and obtain a receipt of the transaction.

Use the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service bulky waste collection service for large household items.

Take suitable items to a local Household Recycling Centre.

Donate good-quality items to local charities. Some may offer collection services.

Reuse items by selling or giving them away through local community groups and online marketplaces.

You could be fined if your waste is fly-tipped

Failing to check that a waste carrier is licensed can be costly. If your waste is fly-tipped and traced back to you, you could face a fine, even if you paid someone else to remove it. A Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued of up to £600 for breaching your household waste duty of care, and a further £300 for failing to produce a Waste Transfer Note.