Nearly £1,000 fines and costs for failure to check waste carrier

Phillip Doughty, of Fundrey Road, Walsoken, gave goods to a man who he said had agreed a deal to take the waste for free as it included scrap metal he could sell.

The Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal, Cllr Sandra Squire, said: "Fly tipping is not a victimless crime: it pollutes land and water, harms plants and animals and council tax payers are left footing the bill to clear it up.

"All too often these 'deals' end with rubbish being fly-tipped but prosecution is easy to avoid. All you have to do is check how your waste is going to be disposed of, for example by checking that the person is a licensed waste carrier and asking for a receipt.

"We have the means to find out where the waste came from in many cases and in this case it cost Mr Doughty nearly £1,000 in fines and costs. The irony for him is that he could have taken it to the tip for nothing."

The rubbish, including a vacuum cleaner, gas cylinder, wood and cardboard, was found last summer on land next to Walsoken Road, Marshland.

Officers from the council's Clean Neighbourhood Enforcement Team launched an investigation, which led them to Doughty. He told the officers that he had put some waste outside the front of his house. He was then approached by a man who had asked if he could have the scrap. Doughty said they did a deal that the man could have the scrap as long as he took the rubbish too.

The man took the rubbish - but he did not take it to the tip.

Doughty acknowledged that he had not checked how the waste would be disposed of. He was initially issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice but after he failed to pay it, council officers took him to court.

At King's Lynn Magistrates on Wednesday 12 September, he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the householder duty of care for waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Magistrates fined him £450, and imposed court and prosecution costs of £480, adding up to £930 in total.

The council advises householders to follow the 'SCRAP' advice when disposing of rubbish:

Suspect all waste carriers. Don't let them take your rubbish until they provide proof of registration. Note their vehicle's registration plate.

Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency's website.

Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.

Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of - seek evidence of this.

Paperwork must be obtained: a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier's contact details.