Wiltshire businessman fined for waste document offences
Owen Pearce failed to provide the correct documentation when asked
A business owner in Wiltshire has been fined £1,440 for waste offences, after failing to provide Wiltshire Council with the correct documentation.
Wiltshire Council served Owen James Pearce, of Portway Lane, Warminster, who runs OJ's Garden Maintenance, with a two 14-day statutory notices requiring him to provide the council with two years' worth of waste transfer notes and a copy of his waste carriers licence, after seeing an advert with photos on social media.
Waste transfer notes are legal documents that prove a company has passed waste on to a business that has the appropriate licence to collect it. These documents must be kept for a legal period of two years.
The investigation aimed to identify whether they held the correct documentation to carry and transport waste being created in the course of the business and whether it was being disposed of in the correct manner.
The council received no response from Mr Pearce, leading to him being handed two £300 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for failing to produce waste transfer documents and the failure to produce a copy of his waste carrier licence.
These weren't paid and lead to a court summons.
Mr Pearce appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday 11 April and was found guilty of failing to produce written documentation relating to the transfer, collection and disposal of commercial waste and of failing to produce a waste carrier's licence. He was fined a total of £1,440 including costs.
Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place at Wiltshire Council, said: "All business owners have a legal obligation to ensure that any waste produced is disposed of safely, legally and responsibly - and this includes having the correct documentation. This applies whether they take the rubbish away themselves or by a registered waste carrier.
"Commercial waste collections are not included within business rates, so all businesses no matter how big or small, must also have a waste collection contract in place.
"We also want to advise people to be more cautious when using businesses advertised on social media groups such as those offering tip runs or garden clearance services. Always use a correctly registered business, take down their vehicle details and get a receipt for any waste collected. We want residents to support commercial businesses that act responsibly and ensure their viability."