Warning over using unlicensed rubbish collection companies
Posted on Thursday 16th February 2017
Newport City Council is advising residents to double check details of operators who offer to take your unwanted rubbish away – and then dump it illegally.
The warning follows a court case where Newport resident Kieron Kenny paid £50 to a ‘man in a van’ to take away household rubbish on his behalf, but instead of disposing of the rubbish legally, the unlicensed operator dumped the waste.
Following an investigation by the council’s Pride in Newport waste enforcement team, the fly-tipped rubbish was found at Chapel Road, Newport.
Officers attended the site and searched the waste. A B&Q delivery note addressed to Mr Kenny of Chepstow Road was discovered.
When officers interviewed Mr Kenny he confirmed he was having work done on his property and wanted to get rid of waste on the site.
He said a man with a white transit van with a trailer stopped and said he would take the rubbish away for £50. He told Mr Kenny he had a permit, however, Mr Kenny was unable to provide further details and was prosecuted at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Kenny pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to knowingly causing controlled waste, namely boxes, bags, kitchen units and general building waste to be deposited on land namely Chapel Road, Nash, Newport, without the authority of a current environmental permit issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.Contrary to section 33 (1)(a), (6) and (8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of failing to comply with the duty imposed by section 34(1)(c) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by breaching your duty of care as a person who carries or disposes of controlled waste to take all measures applicable to him in that capacity as are reasonable in the circumstances on the transfer of the waste to secure that the transfer is only to an authorised person or to a person for authorised transport purposes. Contrary to section 34 (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
After hearing the details Cwmbran Magistrates gave Mr Kenny a conditional discharge for two years, reduced from three years for his early guilty plea. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, plus costs to Newport City Council of £561.24.
Councillor Ray Truman, deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport, warned other residents not to fall victim to such illegal practices.
“We take incidents of fly-tipping very seriously and will take action through the courts against those who fail to dispose of rubbish legally.
“It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that any operator who asks for money to dispose of waste carries a proper permit issued by Newport City Council. It is up to the customer to check those credentials thoroughly, or they can end up in court, as in this case.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Pride in Newport team for securing this prosecution,” said Cllr Truman.