People are being reminded that it is their own responsibly to ensure they are disposing their waste correctly.

Think About It Films have made a short film about the S.C.R.A.P campaign to help reduce the number of fly tipping incidents across Hertfordshire.

The campaign, organised by the Hertfordshire Fly Tipping Group, encourages residents and businesses to follow the campaign’s S.C.R.A.P. code, which provides a check list to follow when arranging one-off collections of waste.

• Suspect all waste carriers; do not let them take your waste until they have proven themselves to be legitimate.

• Check their waste carrier’s registration details, then verify them by searching the Environment Agency or by calling 03708 506 506.

• Refuse unsolicited offers to have any rubbish taken away.

• Ask what exactly is going to happen to your rubbish and seek evidence that it is going to be disposed of appropriately.

• Paperwork should be obtained. Make sure you get a proper invoice, waste transfer note or a receipt for your waste removal – this should give a description of the waste and provide the waste carrier’s contact details.

Since April 2017, 35 people have been prosecuted for fly tipping offences in Hertfordshire and over 100 fixed penalty notices worth £300 have been issued.

FTG chairman and partnership development manager for the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership, Duncan Jones, said: “Analysis and research shows that approximately two thirds of the fly tipping incidents reported each year are as a result of normal household waste that has ‘leaked’ from established waste disposal routes.”

“Leaving waste items on the street for others to take, outside charity shops and next to street litter bins are all examples of fly tipping.

“These contribute to the thousands of fly tipping incidents reported in Hertfordshire each year and in 2016/17, cost tax payers over £1 million to clean up and investigate.”

Think About It Films make short films that help charities, businesses, the NHS & local government communicate better in a social media age.

Their aim is to create short films that tell the human story behind a service or product as they believe people achieve more when they truly understand other people.

Up to 75 per cent of their work comes directly from their home town Watford.

Find out more: www.thinkfilming.com

Follow the campaign on Twitter by following #SCRAPflytipping