Wiltshire Council issues £600 fine after Swindon waste fly-tipping incident
Residents urged to verify waste disposal operators
Wiltshire Council has issued a £600 fixed penalty notice (FPN) to a Swindon resident after their waste was discovered fly-tipped, reminding locals of their duty to ensure proper waste disposal.
Environmental Enforcement Officers investigated the case after finding waste, including cardboard, polystyrene, and plumbing materials, dumped along the Ridgeway in Broad Hinton.
Upon tracing the waste to a Swindon resident, officers found the individual had paid someone they believed was a legitimate waste removal operator. However, the items were later found illegally dumped.
Householders have a legal obligation to confirm their waste is correctly disposed of, including waste given to third parties. Not verifying disposal operators can result in enforcement action—even if waste is dumped by another party.
Due to failing to establish the identity of the waste removal operator, the resident received a £600 FPN, although it is not a court conviction, hence their name remains undisclosed.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, emphasised the importance of checking waste removal credentials to prevent fly-tipping and subsequent fines.
Smith said, "Too often people pay someone to remove waste without asking the right questions or checking they are properly licensed."
Wiltshire Council’s campaign, WTF: Stop at Source, highlights the need for residents to scrutinise waste handlers and prevent fly-tipping at its origin.
Residents should ensure waste carriers possess valid Environment Agency registration, request vehicle details, and obtain a written receipt indicating waste disposal points.
Failure to perform these checks could result in a fixed penalty or prosecution, promoting environmental damage prevention and responsible waste handling.