Our campaign against fly tipping in South Gloucestershire continues with the successful prosecution of two individuals for committing waste related offences.
Carl Gillespie, of Sherwood Road, Speedwell in Bristol was prosecuted by our environmental protection team after fly tipped building waste was discovered on Cattybrook Lane, Mangotsfield on 18 September 2016. Evidence found at the fly tip and subsequent enquiries identified that the waste had been left with Gillespie, who attended the council’s offices for interview where he fully admitted the offence. He claimed that he’d been employed on a building site and had agreed to properly dispose of the waste but fly tipped it in a nearby lane. He was fined £480, plus a £48 victim surcharge and costs of £952.
Luke Mort, of Sandstone Rise, Winterbourne in South Gloucestershire fly tipped household waste including cardboard, drink cans, magazine and paper waste at Mill Road in Winterbourne between 22 February and 9 March 2017. Letters and a magazine which was personally addressed to the defendant led to his identity during the investigation. Mort admitted the offence when he pleaded guilty in court and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £450 in costs.
Both cases were heard at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Friday 18 August.
South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Tourism Cllr Heather Goddard said: “There is no excuse for fly tipping which is why our ongoing campaign against offenders continues. It is an issue that affects our communities and harms the local environment, but could so easily be avoided as our Sort It centres are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, seven days a week.
“The duty of care to ensure the proper disposal of waste rests with everyone. Businesses and residents 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, dispose of waste in the correct manner and that 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 http://epr.environment-agency.gov.uk/ePRInternet/searchregisters.aspx
- 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
