The director of a Nottingham waste removal company has been fined and given community service for an illegal fly-tip in otherwise unspoilt countryside in Rushcliffe.
The waste removal company charged a landlord to remove and dispose of waste from a house in Whitemoor, in the city, that was undergoing renovation but then hired a sub-contractor to remove the items on their behalf, which resulted in the eyesore.
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) discovered the large tip in a rural layby on Westhorpe in Willoughby on the Wolds and found a letter in the waste addressed to the property, which assisted in tracking down the company hired by the landlord.
The waste contained a significant number of bags of builder’s rubble, plaster, bricks, cabinets, doors, tiles, carpets, a toilet cistern, wood and skirting, clothes, toys, items of furniture, a pushchair, and a car seat.
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There was also roof felting, a garden shed, a bathtub, hoses, plumbing pipes, and bags of general litter, all left blighting the countryside location in May 2024.
Although the waste removal company were licensed waste carriers themselves, they did not make the necessary checks to ensure the driver was also a registered carrier and then failed to disclose the identity of the offender.
As a result, RBC issued a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice to the director for failing his legal responsibility under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
He was also referred to the Immediate Justice Programme, where he engaged in seven hours of community work, including removing graffiti and litter picking, instead of facing criminal charges and court proceedings.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Cllr Rob Inglis, said: “We take a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping, and it’s really important we deter these incidents from taking place by taking action whenever we can so we can protect public areas and keep them clean, safe, and accessible to all residents.
“We’re pleased our Neighbourhood Officers were able to track down the company responsible for this fly-tip in Willoughby on the Wolds. It was horrendous to see one of our beautiful local country lanes blighted by waste from a house renovation.
“Although the company was licensed, the director employed an unauthorised person to remove the waste on their behalf, failing in his duty of care by not making the necessary enquiries to ensure they were also a licensed waste carrier.
“It’s appalling behaviour and completely irresponsible for the company director not to come forward with the identity of the offender they hired for the job.
“The company director was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice and ordered to do community work for his irresponsible actions. We’d like to remind everyone that fines will always follow where evidence leads back to those who have illegally dumped items or, in this case, those responsible for the waste removal.”
