Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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Breckland fly tipper and illegal waste carrier face fines
Breckland Council is showing residents it expects them to adhere to waste regulations by issuing fixed penalties to two men who broke the law; one of whom was fined £300 for illegally dumping waste in Thetford while the other was fined £300 for illegally collecting household scrap metal and storing it in a residential car park.
The fly tipper, who was apprehended thanks to public reports, was interviewed under police caution before the council's Enforcement Officer issued him with a fixed penalty notice. The officer was able to link the waste to the offender, who had left household waste and clothes near a wooded glade, rather taking it to the nearby recycling centre.
The second man received his fixed penalty notice for operating as an illegal waste carrier and not carrying the correct documentation.
Commenting on the two cases, Cllr Alison Webb, executive member for Housing, Health & Environment at Breckland Council, said: "Fly tipping is illegal and a serious environmental crime that harms the countryside and costs taxpayers money to clear up. The council has a zero-tolerance approach towards fly tipping and we will not hesitate to take action to make sure people pay for their crimes and hopefully deter people who may consider doing this in the future. When inspecting the fly tip, our staff found that all of the items dumped could have been taken to the local recycling centre for free. Since receiving the fine, the fly tipper has voluntary agreed to take part in a community litter pick, which will certainly drive home how his actions have affected the local environment and we sincerely hope it change any future behaviour when dealing with his own household waste.
"Illegal waste carriers are not only breaking the law by collecting household waste, including washing machines and fridges, but they are often involved in illegal fly tipping. I would like to encouraged residents to be particularly wary of businesses that only operate through social media or those who come to their door offering to take away rubbish cheaply. The council has a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal waste carriers and we will not hesitate in taking direct action. We hope this fine will deter people who may consider doing this in the future."
The Council is advising residents who discover a fly tip to inform the council as quickly as possible, as this increases the chance of catching the culprits.
29th August 2019