According to Käthlyn Lizdenis, the Head of the Surveillance Bureau of Ida-Viru County of the Environmental Board, the number of cases where people have become victims of trash scammers is increasing. “These are cases when the transport service provider takes money for the disposal of construction or bulky waste, but then takes the waste received from the customer instead of a waste collection point into a forest or to any other place not intended for that purpose,” explained Lizdenis.
However, the person who owned the waste is responsible for the refuse that has reached the wrong place in this way. According to Lizdenis, waste must be handed over to a company that has a waste management permit or an integrated environmental permit. “If you give your waste to an unauthorized operator, there is a risk that if the trash goes to the wrong place, you may be held responsible for that. Taking waste into nature is punishable by a fine of up to 1,200 euros (natural person), the fine of a legal person is much higher. In addition, the party at fault has to arrange for the waste to be taken to the waste collection station. In this way, the refuse transport service, which initially seemed favourable, will be finally very expensive for a person,” explained the Head of the Surveillance Bureau.
The highest number of complaints about the disposal of construction and demolition waste or bulky waste, such as furniture, in the nature was registered in Harju, Tartu and Ida-Viru counties last year. The problem is especially related to extraordinarily generated construction and demolition waste and bulky waste, not the usual regular transport of waste.
“Remember that you are responsible for your own trash,” emphasized Käthlyn Lizdenis, the Head of the Surveillance Bureau of Ida-Viru County. “Take this question responsibly!”
If you notice that trash is being dumped in the forest, waste is being burnt or buried, you should report it to 1247.
How to avoid becoming a victim of trash scammers?
- Take trash to the right place yourself. You can find further information at website kuhuviia.ee on where and what kind of trash to take to and how much it would cost. Similar information can be found on the website of your local government as well. It is often cheaper to take the trash away yourself than to order a dealer, and you can rent a suitable trailer or truck.
- Ask a reliable friend for help. If you do not have transportation or possibility to take the construction or bulky waste to a waste collection station yourself, ask a friend or someone you trust to help you with the transport.
- Use the services of reliable companies. Whether a company providing the waste collection service has a waste management permit, registration or an integrated environmental permit can be checked in the information system KOTKAS of the Environmental Board. In order to do this, enter the name of the company in the box "owner" and you will see all the environmental permits related with that company.
- Ask the refuse collector for a receipt. When ordering transport for a construction and bulky waste disposal service, make sure to ask the refuse collector or the receiver for a receipt issued at the waste collection point stating where and when your waste was taken. You can ask for the receipt to be handed over, sent by e-mail or as a photo. This way you can make sure that your refuse has really been taken to the right place and prove it, if necessary.
Schedule: Complaints received in connection with the release of construction and demolition waste and / or bulky waste (e.g furniture) into the nature by counties.
Further information:
Käthlyn Lizdenis
Head of the Surveillance Bureau of Ida-Viru County of the Environmental Board
kathlyn.lizdenis@keskkonnaamet.ee
339 5662
