formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

i must say i never thought that they would need a licence to carry scrap and it is top heavy at times

[CleverClogs]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...ecarriers.aspx

https://www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration

[CleverClogs]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

Then there's the question of whence they got the "scrap" drainpipes, guttering, grids and man-hole covers.

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

thank you so much for that how interesting i would think that the housing association could also be liable for allowing this to take place on there property

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

what a great piece of information red setter

[CleverClogs]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

thank you so much for that how interesting i would think that the housing association could also be liable for allowing this to take place on there property

Are the enterprising "gents" storing any scrap around the house they infest?

Do they have any piles of rubbish nearby, especially rubbish or demolition debris that might contain asbestos?

[PlanB]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

I have been taking pictures and have pics of wagon parked outside my window full to the top of scrap metal exactly what the housing officer said we wouldn't have

Is collecting scrap metal your neighbours' hobby or do you think they are selling this private collection? If so do they also submit their tax returns to HMRC and would this income impact on their benefits such as any Housing Benefit paid to your Housing Association? It would be a criminal offence if they were making fraudulent HB claims which could get them re-housed at Her Majesty's pleasure and then they wouldn't be your neighbours anymore

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

they collect any kind of metal washing machines fridges barbies you name it its on every day then left outside overnight then the kids strip some of the things out like the gas out the fridges cause you cant crush them in the scrap yards

[wales01man]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

Think its illegal to degas fridges contact the council Monday no sense in looking for answers without talking to the authorities

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

thanks

[bluebottle]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

The police have certain powers under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and, as Clever Clogs has pointed out, these neighbours may not hold a Waste Carriers Licence from the Environment Agency. Anyone dealing with scrap metal has to hold a Waste Carriers Licence to collect and transport the metal to a recycling facility, who must hold a licence to process the metal. This licence is also issued by the Environment Agency. They must also hold a licence from the Local Authority to deal in scrap metal.

I am very concerned that refrigerant gas is being discharged from scrap fridges, especially by children. This requires specialist equipment and storage facilities. You are correct that scrap fridges cannot be baled/crushed by metal recyclers, unless the refrigerant gas is first removed.

I would be inclined to alert the following agencies to your neighbour's scrap metal activities -

Local Authority - LAs license scrap metal dealers, as well as the Environment Agency. Also, do these neighbours have planning permission to be processing scrap metal where they are?
Environment Agency - Mainly, as to whether the neighbours are properly licensed. However, I have a feeling the Environment Agency will be none too happy about the discharge of refrigerant gases without the correct equipment and storage facilities. There is also the issue of dangerous and/or hazardous waste.
Police - As Clever Clogs points out, where are they getting the scrap metal from? Your local police will be interested in any lead or vehicle parts they have and the British Transport Police will be interested in any cabling they have. The Ministry of Defence Police will be interested in things like phosphor bronze and silver solder.

[bluebottle]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

Update on refrigerant gases

I have spoken to my brother-in-law who as well as being a marine engineer is also a refrigeration engineer. He has advised that refrigerant gases must not be released into the atmosphere in the manner described in this thread. All refrigerant gases MUST be recovered and disposed of at a licensed facility. The manner in which the refrigerant gases are being disposed of, as per that described in this thread, MUST be reported to the local authority and the Environment Agency asap. The fact that children are undertaking this is of particular concern.

[bluebottle]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

Think its illegal to degas fridges contact the council Monday no sense in looking for answers without talking to the authorities

See my most recent post, Wales. You think correctly.

[CleverClogs]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

I have spoken to my brother-in-law who as well as being a marine engineer is also a refrigeration engineer. He has advised that refrigerant gases must not be released into the atmosphere in the manner described in this thread. All refrigerant gases MUST be recovered and disposed of at a licensed facility. The manner in which the refrigerant gases are being disposed of, as per that described in this thread, MUST be reported to the local authority and the Environment Agency asap. The fact that children are undertaking this is of particular concern.

Well, indeed.

Domestic refrigerators and freezers typically use freon (link) which is a chloro-fluoro-carbon compound said to be responsible for "causing" the hole in the ozone layer. That's bad enough and some of its replacements are rather toxic but industrial and commercial equipment may contain ammonia which is more than slightly deadly.

[alan1]

Re: formal complaint to the housing association advise needed on how to proceed!!

thanks red setter you certainly have given me a lot of ammunition over this last 2 days