Swindon resident faces £600 penalty for fly-tipped waste
Wiltshire Council warns against using unlicensed waste collectors
A Swindon resident has been fined £600 after their waste was discovered illegally dumped in Broad Hinton, Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Council’s Environmental Enforcement Officers launched an investigation after finding a significant amount of waste, including cardboard, polystyrene, and plumbing materials, discarded along the Ridgeway.
The investigation traced the waste back to an individual in Swindon who claimed to have paid someone they believed to be a legitimate waste collector to dispose of the items. However, the waste was found to have been fly-tipped.
Residents have a legal duty to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly, even when passed to a third party. Failure to check the legitimacy of waste collectors can lead to enforcement actions, despite not being the actual person to dump the waste.
The Swindon resident did not identify the person they gave their waste to, failing to meet their household duty of care, resulting in the issuance of a £600 fixed penalty notice (FPN).
Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, Martin Smith, stressed the importance of checking waste collectors to prevent fly-tipping and avoid fines.
“This case is another clear reminder that failing to check who is taking your waste away can lead directly to fly-tipping and a significant financial penalty,” Smith said.
The council's We're Targeting Fly-tippers (WTF): Stop at Source campaign aims to educate residents on their responsibilities when using waste collectors.
Unlicensed waste collectors often promote cheap services without intentions to legally dispose of waste.
Residents are urged to verify waste collectors' registration with the Environment Agency and to obtain proper documentation for waste disposal to avoid fines or prosecution.