Garden Clearance: Why You Must Check the Waste Carrier

Clearing an overgrown garden, emptying a shed or getting rid of the leftovers from a renovation usually produces more waste than a household bin can take. Most people pay someone to take it away. What many do not realise is that if that waste is later dumped in a lane or a lay-by, the householder can be held responsible.

This guide explains the legal side, how to check who you are hiring, and what a proper clearance should look like.

The householder duty of care

Householders have a legal duty of care for the waste their home produces. In practice it means that if you hand waste to someone else, you must take reasonable steps to make sure they are allowed to carry it. Councils can issue a fixed penalty notice to a householder who fails to do that, and councils have reported fines of up to £600 for residents who did not check that a man with a van was a licensed waste carrier.

That applies to garden waste as well as household rubbish. Hedge cuttings, turf, soil, old fence panels and broken slabs are all waste.

How to check a waste carrier

Anyone who carries waste as part of their business should be registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier. The register is public and free to search online. Before booking anyone:

• Ask for their waste carrier registration number
• Check it against the Environment Agency public register
• Make sure the name on the register matches the person or business you are hiring
• Ask where the waste is going

It is also sensible to get a receipt or waste transfer note that says what was taken and who took it.

Warning signs

Be wary of anyone who knocks on the door offering to take rubbish away, who will not give a business name or registration number, or whose price seems far too low for the volume of waste. Disposing of waste properly costs money, and a price that does not cover that cost is a warning sign.

What a proper garden clearance involves

A good clearance is more than loading a van. On an overgrown garden it usually means cutting back growth, digging out brambles and roots, lifting old features such as rotten edging or a broken rockery, and leaving the ground clear and level enough for whatever comes next.

Before any hedge or shrub clearance in spring and summer, it should be checked for active bird nests. It is an offence to damage or destroy an active nest.

In a conservation area, such as the centre of Bradford-on-Avon, taking out trees above a small size needs six weeks' notice to Wiltshire Council first. Small shrubs and hedges are not affected by that rule.

Council collections and the tip

For small amounts, Wiltshire Council's garden waste collection is an option, but it is a paid annual subscription for a single 180 litre bin. A big clearance can fill that many times over. Taking it to a household recycling centre yourself is another route if you have the vehicle and the time.

After the clearance

Plenty of gardens that start with a clearance end up as something new: fresh turf, beds and borders, new fencing where the old one has collapsed, or a patio or path. Others just need regular maintenance to stop them getting out of hand again. If the problem ground is heavy clay, our guide to lawn care in autumn covers the first steps for getting the grass back.

Getting a fair quote

Clearances are hard to price over the phone, because volume and access make all the difference. A garden reached through the house or down a narrow side passage takes longer than one with a gate onto a drive. Photos of the whole area, including how it is reached, help a lot. It also helps to say clearly what is staying: plants you want to keep, a shed you plan to reuse, paving that only needs a clean. A good quote should say what is being cleared, that the waste is being taken away, and roughly how long it will take.

Clearances with Gordon's

Gordon's Home & Garden holds the correct waste carrier licensing for garden and property clearances, so everything taken away is disposed of responsibly. The clearances page covers garden, shed, garage and property clearances across Trowbridge, Westbury and the surrounding area.

For a free quote, get in touch or call Matt on 07356 272150. Photos of the garden or the pile of waste help with pricing.