Unlicensed waste carrier's vehicle seized
Published
Monday 8 June, 2026
Updated
Monday 8 June, 2026
An unlicensed waste carrier’s vehicle has been seized, and the unlicensed driver fined, as part of a joint operation between Swale Borough Council and Kent Police.
During a targeted operation, the council’s enforcement team worked with the Kent Police Community Safety Unit to stop vehicles carrying waste.
The operation checked paperwork and gathered intelligence to disrupt illegal waste dumping across the borough.
The council teamed up with Kent Police’s Community Safety Unit (CSU) to tackle suspected fly-tipping, collect evidence, and take enforcement action for waste related crimes.
Officers caught one driver transporting waste without the correct permits.
The council issued them an immediate £300 fixed penalty notice.
Further police checks revealed the driver was uninsured, had no valid MOT, and was driving a vehicle that did not belong to them.
Police seized the vehicle on the spot.
This operation is part of the council’s ongoing, proactive work to track down rogue waste carriers, disrupt illegal waste sites, and protect our countryside from dumped rubbish.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of the Environmental Services Committee at the council, said:
“We regularly run these joint operations across the borough to make sure waste carriers have the right licenses and dispose of rubbish responsibly.
“On this occasion, the driver was not only unlicensed but also driving without insurance or an MOT, putting other road users in real danger.
“Please watch out for cheap waste removal adverts on social media. If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“Rogue traders often dodge disposal fees and dump waste in our country lanes. This leaves the council, and ultimately you as the taxpayer, to foot the cleanup bill.
“If we trace fly-tipped waste back to you, you could face a heavy fine. Always check your waste carrier is licensed and ask for a waste transfer note.”
Inspector Julia Bassindale, Kent Police, said:
“Targeting illegal waste carriers is essential to preventing fly-tipping and safeguarding our environment.
“These activities not only damage our countryside but also undermine legitimate businesses and harm local communities.
“Operations with partner agencies lead to action being taken against those who flout the rules and gives us vital information about individuals and vehicles potentially linked to other forms of criminality.”
Swale Borough Council regularly carries out these days of action with the Kent Police.
The council’s enforcement team gathers intelligence in advance to help target the right areas to carry out their duties.
The Op assists form part of a multi-agency effort to tackle larger illegal waste sites, by helping to investigate and disrupt their logistical operations.
What can you do to dispose of your waste responsibly?
Fly-tippers often target households on social media, offering cheap rates to clear away unwanted furniture, building rubble, or garden waste.
Instead of paying to dispose of it properly, they dump it in our lanes.
If you use an unlicensed criminal to clear your waste and we trace it back to you, we can issue you a fixed penalty notice.
If you fail to pay, we will take you to court, where fines are much higher.
You can protect yourself in three simple steps:
- Check your waste carrier is licensed by visiting the Environment Agency website or calling 03708 506506.
- Get a receipt or a 'waste transfer note'. This must include the carrier's contact details, a description of the waste they removed, and the final destination of the waste.
- Check what you can dispose of for free at Kent County Council Household Waste Recycling Centres.
