Sandwell residents urged to use bonafide skip hire firms (From Halesowen News)

Sandwell residents urged to use bonafide skip hire firms

9:00am Saturday 14th July 2012 in News

RESIDENTS in Sandwell are being advised to only use a reputable company if they need to hire a skip.

The warning has come from Sandwell trading standards following a number of complaints from residents about the service they have received with some waiting weeks or even months for collection.

Cabinet member for neighbourhood services Councillor Ian Jones said ths has led to health and safety problems, with waste lying around, some of it dangerous, such as broken glass and nails.

He said the council’s environmental health team could become involved if a skip is causing problems with vermin or fly tipping and the landowner could be held responsible and prosecuted.

All skip hire companies must have a waste carrier’s license issued by the Environment Agency.

Permits from the council have to obtained before a skip can be placed on the public highway and if it is not collected, the council has the power to have it removed.

But if the skip is to be placed on private land, there is no need for a permit from the council and it cannot help if the skip is not collected.

Trading standards advise people not to use a skip hire company if it refuses to give their waste license number.

Cllr Jones added: "The council’s highways services have a list of skip hire companies who are pre-registered to place skips on the highway in Sandwell.

"If you need to hire a skip, please call them first on 0845 359 7518. It is also wise to check with the Environment Agency, via their website, whether a skip hire company is licenced to carry waste."