South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 27/01/2016

A Staple Hill man has been ordered to pay £1,240 in fines and costs after admitting fly tipping waste in Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire.

Sean Burnell, 29, of High Street in Staple Hill appeared before North Avon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 January. He pleaded guilty to fly tipping waste that was found in Besom Lane, Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire and was fined £400 with costs of £800 and a £40 victim surcharge.

The court heard that a Yate resident had been in contact with Burnell who agreed to remove some cardboard and packaging waste for the resident for £40. The waste was subsequently found dumped in a lay-by on Besom Lane.

Burnell had claimed that he was driving along Besom Lane a few days after collecting the waste, when he saw that some litter, including a mattress, dumped in a lay-by on the side of the road. He admitted dumping the Yate residents’ waste there as well.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Communities Committee Chair Cllr Heather Goddard said: “This latest prosecution continues our zero tolerance policy regarding fly tipping and serves as another reminder that if you are involved in the illegal dumping of waste in South Gloucestershire, you will be prosecuted. Residents are advised to only give their rubbish to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier or they could be held liable if waste is subsequently fly tipped.”

You can carry out these simple steps to make sure your waste is disposed of legally:
• Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information. Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency.
• Check whether the waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or by checking the public register of waste carriers available on their website
• Ask for a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.

Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort It centres.

Residents who see illegal fly tipping are encouraged to report it by contacting the Street Care helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping