Ealing Council warns local businesses they could face fines if they fail to dispose of commercial waste legally.

Earlier this month, the council’s commercial waste and enforcement officers carried out a joint inspection exercise in Southall Green, focusing on Featherstone Road and The Green — locations identified as fly-tipping hotspots. A total of 22 businesses were visited to check whether they were meeting their legal responsibilities for waste disposal.

By law, businesses must have a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) — a contract with a licensed waste carrier — and must keep records as proof. This requirement helps ensure waste is handled responsibly and does not end up dumped on streets or public land.

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Results of the inspections

During the checks:

• 9 businesses were able to produce valid waste documentation on the day
• 13 businesses could not provide paperwork at the time but stated they had agreements in place
• These 13 were issued a Section 34 Notice, giving them 14 days to submit evidence
• 9 of those businesses have since supplied the required documents
• The remaining 4 may receive a £300 fine
• One business chose to sign up to the council’s waste services following the visit

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Why enforcement matters

Improper disposal of trade waste contributes significantly to fly-tipping, which damages neighbourhoods and creates additional clean-up costs for taxpayers. Businesses have a clear duty of care to ensure their waste is collected and processed legally.

Councillor Paul Driscoll, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for climate action, said the council is determined to keep streets clean and expects businesses to use licensed waste contractors. He added that enforcement action will be taken where standards are not met.

Wider action against rogue businesses

The waste checks form part of a broader programme of business enforcement across the borough. The council regularly takes action against traders who break the rules, including those involved in food safety breaches, counterfeiting, and illegal sales

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Recent enforcement activity has included:

• 6,400 food safety inspections and 26 prosecutions, leading to nearly £500,000 in fines and costs
• An increase in food safety compliance from 82% to 88%
• The seizure of over 130,000 illegal cigarettes, 75kg of illicit shisha, and more than 25,000 illegal vapes

What happens next

Similar inspection days are planned in other areas of the borough where fly-tipping is a problem, as the council continues efforts to ensure businesses follow waste disposal laws and help keep local streets clean.

Image: AI-generated, not a real photograph.