A Clifton man has been ordered to pay £912 after waste collected from a Leicestershire business was fly-tipped on a country lane in Bunny.
Rushcliffe Borough Council prosecuted Dean Edge for environmental offences after a large quantity of items was illegally dumped on Fairham Brook Lane.
In May, enforcement officers from Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE), working alongside the council’s Community Safety Team, found evidence linking Edge to the offence.
With support from Nottinghamshire Police, the vehicle used in the fly-tipping was subsequently seized from his home address.
Edge appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court last month and pleaded guilty to all offences. He was ordered to pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £912 and received a criminal record.
The business that employed Edge to remove its waste later collected the fly-tip itself. It is now arranging for the items to be properly disposed of by a waste carrier registered with the Environment Agency.
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence. Residents and businesses have a legal duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly.
Failing to meet that responsibility can result in a fixed penalty notice of up to £500 or prosecution, which can lead to a criminal conviction and higher financial penalties.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Rob Inglis, said: “Fly-tipping is an offence that we take very seriously, and this should act as a warning to others who consider blighting our communities and causing environmental damage.
“There is never an acceptable excuse for dumping waste or leaving unwanted items in our neighbourhoods.
“This incident is unfortunately one of many fly-tipping cases investigated each week by WISE and the RBC Community Safety Team.
“Passing yourself off as a waste carrier and failing to correctly dispose of the items is never acceptable, and I am proud of our teams for tracking down this individual.
“Residents and businesses are reminded to always take care when disposing of waste to ensure they do not inadvertently contribute to waste crime.
“Always use a registered waste carrier and understand your legal duty of care. This means checking that you are using a reputable waste collection company registered with the Environment Agency.
“Take extra care when sourcing providers through social media or responding to cold callers offering a cheap quote. If it sounds too cheap to be true, it often is.”
