A man from Yate has been ordered to pay a total of £2,083 in fines and costs after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted him for collecting scrap metal without the legally required licences.
Luke Gill, 34, of Argyle Road in Yate appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on 27 April. He pleaded guilty to not having a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence, Registered Waste Carriers Licence or Waste Transfer Notes, and was handed an £800 fine, ordered to pay costs of £963, and a victim surcharge of £320, making a total of £2,083.
The court heard that an officer from South Gloucestershire Council was in Gathorne Crescent, Yate on Monday 22 September 2025 when he witnessed Luke Gill collecting scrap metal. Gill was using a flatbed vehicle and the officer made a note of the registration plate. During a brief conversation, Gill admitted not having a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence and drove off after telling a local resident not to identify him.
ANPR data for the flatbed vehicle showed that it was captured a total of 123 times between 1 September 2025 and 26 October 2025. On further examination it was found that there were 13 occasions when the vehicle was loaded with scrap metal, that load of scrap metal was removed from the vehicle, and a different load of scrap metal appears within days or even that same day.
Gill was subsequently identified and required to bring documentation relevant to collecting and disposing of scrap metal and to attend an interview at the Council’s Yate offices. He voluntarily attended and was interviewed under caution on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
During the interview Gill claimed that he did not need a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence, a Registered Waste Carriers Licence or Waste Transfer Notes, claiming he was not collecting metal for profit. He agreed that the vehicle was his and registered to him. Gill stated that he would collect metal from friends, take it to his home address for his children to play with and then a friend would pick it up for free. He declined/could not name any locations where he collected the waste from or who collected his waste. It was pointed out to him that 13 different loads of significant amounts of scrap metal over eight weeks being collected just for his children to play with was unlikely. He insisted that he did not receive payment for scrap metal and it was for the entertainment of his children.
He was told that further enquiries would be made with Scrap Metal Dealers to see if he had sold any scrap metal and he was told he would be reported for summons.
Subsequent enquiries at scrap metal dealers in South Gloucestershire showed that between 9 September 2025 and 20 October 2025 Gill visited four times in his flatbed vehicle and was paid £732.22 for scrap metal.
Gill appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 27 April 2026 and pleaded guilty to all offences.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Having the correct legal documentation is very important as it means the waste’s journey can be followed. Unlicenced waste carriers are far more likely to cut corners and dispose of waste illegally.
“Residents are advised to be wary of cold callers and businesses or people advertising waste clearances on social media sites such as Facebook. There are a number of legitimate options for waste removal, including the council’s large household waste collection service. If you hire a third-party to dispose of your waste, always ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate, make a note of their details and ask where the waste is being taken.
“Prosecutions like these protect our environment and create cleaner and safer places for our communities. These are key priorities of the Liberal Democrat/ Labour partnership.”
Residents and businesses are advised to only give their rubbish to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier.
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.
Household waste can be taken to the council’s Sort It recycling centres where it can be disposed of at no cost www.southglos.gov.uk/sortitcentres
Residents who observe waste crime or illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report it by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/report
