Fly-Tipped To Be An A**hole

In 2022, I had a landscaper who said that waste removal would be carried out within a week of the job being completed.

A month went by, and no collection occurred. The landscaper seemed to be nigh untraceable bar a mobile number, an account on a trader finder website, and a flyer. Having had no response to polite messages, I left a message saying that neighbours were grumbling and considering reporting it to the council as fly-tipping. (“Fly-tipping” is when sizable amounts of waste are left in unauthorised places. And there’s a possible £400 fine where I live.)

I then pointed out that if the council got involved with the issue, guess whose details would be handed over?

Guess who responded within thirty minutes, blaming [the global health crisis] followed by forgetfulness?

The waste was in the back service lane and therefore on public ground. My only concern was that the council may say that it was still my responsibility. In the UK, the onus is on the original owner of the waste, so even if you pay someone and they dump it in the wild, you’re still liable.

I called the council to double-check the liability. Yes, it was fly-tipping, and yes, it was my problem. I then left a message for the landscaper informing him that I would be changing the positive review I had left, reporting him to Trading Standards, and following through on any other actions necessary if the waste wasn’t removed that day.

I was going to be out around £200 to get rid of the crap; there was too much of it to dispose of gradually.

However, later that day, the waste disappeared, and the landscaper reimbursed me for it! The usual stories were trotted out, but I think having his glowing review removed may have made something hit home.

Related:
Tipped To Be An A**hole, Part 4
Tipped To Be An A**hole, Part 3
Tipped To Be An A**hole, Part 2
Tipped To Be An A**hole