A Bristol man has been ordered to pay a total of £500 after being found guilty of committing waste related offences in South Gloucestershire.
Ionut Vulpe, aged 22, of Kingston Road, Bedminster, Bristol was prosecuted by our environmental protection team after a delivery vehicle he was driving was seen fly tipping waste on Tortworth Road in Tortworth, South Gloucestershire at the end of last year.
The court heard that on 23 November 2017, a witness saw seven empty large delivery bags and an empty cardboard box fly tipped by the driver of a white delivery van on Tortworth Road. Enquiries revealed this vehicle was used by a parcel delivery contractor, and the delivery driver was identified as Ionut Vulpe.
Vulpe was subsequently interviewed by the council’s environcrime officers and stated that he had left the cardboard box and seven carry/delivery bags at the location out of anger and frustration, after they fell out of the van whilst he was trying to re-organise his deliveries.
In court, Vulpe pleaded guilty to fly tipping and was handed a £120 fine, plus costs of £350 and a £30 victim surcharge (total £500).
The case was heard at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 January.
South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Tourism Cllr Heather Goddard said: “Fly tipping is an issue that affects our communities and local environment and this activity will not be tolerated in South Gloucestershire. There is no excuse for this type of behaviour. Waste crime puts the environment at risk and anyone found to be fly tipping in South Gloucestershire will be prosecuted.”
Residents and businesses are advised to only give their rubbish to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier.
Contractors should ensure that they hold a Registered Waste Carriers Licence and they comply with the Waste Transfer Note requirements.
You can carry out these simple steps to make sure your waste is disposed of legally:
Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information. Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency
Check whether the waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or by checking on their website https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
Ask for a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.
Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort It centres.
Residents who see illegal fly tipping are encouraged to report it by using our web form at www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping or emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk
