Bradford householders are being warned to check who they allow to take away their waste - or risk a massive £5,000 fine.

The tough new tactic could hit DIY-ers who fail to check if the skips they hire are properly licensed, and residents who pay a 'man in a van' to clear their gardens.

From today the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act makes householders personally responsible for any rubbish taken from their homes.

It is a response to the trend in illegal operators who offer to remove waste cheaply and then flytip it.

New figures released last month showed that flytippers cost Bradford taxpayers £42,000 during 2004.

Bradford Council also cleared up 613 cases of flytipping between April 2004 and March 2005, at a cost of more than £100 a day.

Richard Wixey, Bradford Council's director of environmental services, said his teams investigated all fly-tipped waste to try and trace where it came from.

The new legislation would allow them to punish the person involved, he said, adding: "In the past we have had a number of instances where rogue contractors have dumped material which the Council has had to deal with, to the embarrassment of the residents."

The Council is now working with the Environment Agency on how to publicise the new responsibilities, but Mr Wixey warned: "Householders need to check they use a bona fide waste company."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "All people who transport waste have to carry a registered waste carriers certificate issued by the Environment Agency.

"If anybody has any doubts about the validity of their certificate they should contact us to verify it."

The Chartered Institute of Waste Management's chief executive Steve Lee, added: "Householders have to play their part too if we are to successfully tackle the current flytipping problem which is already costing almost £1 million a week nationally."

To check whether a particular waste carrier is registered or not, call 08708 506506.