Homeowners in the Fens have been accused of unwittingly contributing to fly-tipping by handing over waste to cold callers who say they will dispose of it for cash.

Fenland District Council is now urging residents to refuse any such offers.

Councillor Peter Murphy, the portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Several recent fly-tipping cases have been traced back to householders or small businesses that had been approached by rogue, unlicensed operators.”

He said that by law householders have a duty to take reasonable measures to ensure that household waste is passed on to an authorised person. Failure to do so could result in them being prosecuted and fined up to £5,000.

“Many fly-tippers rely on people not checking where their waste will end up,” he said.

“It is householders’ responsibility to ensure that they only use legitimate waste carriers who will dispose of their waste legally, not the rogue ones who simply take it away and dump it in the countryside.

“We are doing all we can to stop fly-tipping and we need the public to help us clamp down on the offenders by refusing to hand over waste to unlicensed carriers.”

Cllr Murphy said legitimate waste carriers carry an Environment Agency certificate of registration which residents should ask to see before handing over their waste.

Builders and allied trades, gardeners, house-clearers and scrap metal dealers should all be registered, as should retailers who remove old domestic goods such as fridges or sofas when they deliver new ones.