South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 18/09/2013

Robert Hooper, 21, of Camden Road, Bath was given a 12 month supervision order and sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work as part of a community order. He was also ordered to pay £1,010.96 in costs plus a £60 victim’s surcharge. The magistrates considered it to be a serious offence for which they could have imposed a custodial sentence.

Hooper pleaded guilty to transporting and fly tipping approximately ten carrier bags of household rubbish on private land at Harris Barton in Frampton Cotterell. The location of the offence was at the end of a residential lane leading to open countryside, frequented by walkers.

When interviewed by South Gloucestershire Council officers, Hooper confirmed that the waste was his, but claimed that he had given it to an unnamed friend to dispose of on his behalf. He was served with a legal notice requiring him to disclose the name of the person he had given the rubbish to, but refused to give the information in contravention of the notice.

Cllr Claire Young, Chair of the Communities Committee, said: “Household waste can easily be disposed of legally so there is no excuse for fly tipping. This is the Envirocrime team’s third successful prosecution in the past two months, and more cases are currently being prepared for court. This clearly demonstrates our zero tolerance policy to the illegal dumping of waste. If you fly tip rubbish in South Gloucestershire, you can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

Our message on fly tipping is simple – if you see it, report it. You can do so by calling the Street Care helpdesk on 01454 868000, email streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping

Residents can be liable for waste which is dumped illegally and could be fined up to £5,000. The advice from environmental protection officers is to carry out the following simple checks to avoid being caught out:

● Ask to see a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where your waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.

● Check whether your waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506

● Request a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.

Residents are encouraged to reuse or recycle any unwanted goods or you take them to your nearest SORT IT!* centre.