OPERATION Fume was a joint venture by Basildon Council and Essex Police and took place on Tuesday, 8 July.

During the stop and search, a fixed penalty notice (FPN), which carries a fine of up to £300, was issued to a driver found with no waste carriers’ licence.

It is a legal requirement that all businesses transporting and disposing of waste in England are licensed with the Environment Agency. Failure to register can lead to an unlimited fine.

Cllr Aidan McGurran, Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure, said: “Finding a cheaper ‘man with a van’ on social media might save you a few quid, but the truth is unless you’re using a properly registered firm, you could be funding fly-tippers.

“It is a scourge on our communities, making areas look untidy and rundown, and lumbering councils up and down the country with the bill for tidying up the mess made by these cowboy waste carriers.

“Like our residents we have had enough of selfish individuals acting in a completely irresponsible way and we are taking action to tackle grime crime by hitting those we catch where it hurts – in their wallet.”

Another driver was found with waste on board without an appropriate license. He was given seven days to provide proof of purchase of a waste carriers’ license, or he would be issued an FPN.

Officers stopped another vehicle where the driver provided a waste carriers’ license but failed to show the last two years of waste transfer notes, which are legal documents that record the movement of rubbish around the country.

He was ordered to provide proof within seven days, or he would also be issued an FPN.

The latest crackdown comes after around 100 signs have been posted around the borough warning fly-tippers they are being watched and will be fined.

Fly-tipping is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and offenders found guilty can face an unlimited fine and a prison sentence.