Householders have a legal obligation to check who is taking their rubbish away or risk a fine of up to £5,000.Regulations require them to take reasonable measures, such as checking a waste carrier's registration, before letting them take their rubbish away.

Householders have a legal obligation to check who is taking their rubbish away or risk a fine of up to £5,000.

Regulations require them to take reasonable measures, such as checking a waste carrier's registration, before letting them take their rubbish away.

People who need to have household, garden or construction waste removed from their home must check the waste carrier registration of anyone they employ - or who offers - to remove the waste for them.

Builders, landscape gardeners, tree-fellers and tree-surgeons, house-clearers, retailers (who remove old domestic goods such as fridges or sofas when they deliver new ones) and scrap metal dealers should be registered waste carriers.

Ask to see the company's waste carrier registration and make a note of the number, or ring the Environment Agency on 08708 50 65 06 for an instant waste carrier validation check.

You should also keep a copy of the duty of care waste transfer note and take a note of the vehicle's registration number.

If the waste carrier cannot produce a certificate and is not registered by the agency, you should refuse the service.

Rogue traders and skip hire operators will often offer the best price but then just tip the rubbish up the road.

If the fly-tip is traced back to the householder, they can be fined up to £5,000. They may also be charged for any clearing up that has to be done for illegally- deposited waste.