RESIDENTS are being warned not to get rid of their rubbish to people who knock at the door and offer them a cheap deal.

Householders now have a responsibility under the 'Duty of Care' refuse laws to ensure their rubbish is passed onto authorised carriers only, say environmental enforcement officers at Bury Council.

People not taking reasonable measures to do so could face fines of up to £5,000.

The Environment Agency believes the changes to waste regulations will help reduce the thousands of tonnes of household waste being fly-tipped each year.

Waste cowboys can make huge sums by charging to take household rubbish away illegally before dumping it over the nearest hedge. If the rubbish is traced back to the household it came from, the householder could now be fined.

Cllr John Byrne, the councils executive member for environment and transport, saids: 'We will not tolerate fly tipping. We already have a number of cases of this type being investigated in the borough.'

Registered carriers, other than the local council, can be found at www.env ironment-agency.gov.uk/publicregister