Dumping six rubbish bags costs resident over £400
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Author: |
Rob Walsh |
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Date published: |
1-Apr-2008 |
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Keywords: |
waste |
Fly-tipping just six bags of household waste cost one Ashington resident over £400 at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court on Monday 31 March.
Despite the nearest local authority civic amenity site being only half a mile away, Michael Bunn, 35, of Richardson Street, Ashington, Northumberland, instead drove a similar distance to dump the rubbish at a beauty spot. Mr Bunn pleaded guilty, was fined £300, and ordered to pay costs of £100 to the Environment Agency, plus £15 victim surcharge.
Despite the nearest local authority civic amenity site being only half a mile away, Michael Bunn, 35, of Richardson Street, Ashington, Northumberland, instead drove a similar distance to dump the rubbish at a beauty spot. Mr Bunn pleaded guilty, was fined £300, and ordered to pay costs of £100 to the Environment Agency, plus £15 victim surcharge.
Paul Harley, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court that on 30 August 2007 a member of the public had reported six refuse sacks near the entrance to the car park at Riverside Park in Ashington.
The sacks were collected by the Environment Agency and in them were found documents which led to a Brian Davison. Mr Davison said the documents had been in a caravan which he had sold to the defendant Michael Bunn on 21 August.
Mr Bunn was interviewed on 9 October and admitted he had tidied out the caravan and had put the documents in refuse sacks along with household waste. He had meant to take them to the tip, but had forgotten so had just dumped them.
Mr Harley told the court that the unlawful disposal of waste, in this case domestic waste, is always potentially damaging to the environment. If it had been left undiscovered for a few days, this waste would have begun to decompose, releasing rancid smells and foul liquids, as well as attracting vermin and wild animals that would split the bags and scatter the contents.
The nearest local authority civic amenity site where householders could dispose of domestic waste without charge is about half a mile from the location of the offence. Mr Bunn had a vehicle but chose to dispose of the rubbish in a local beauty spot well used by the community, when he could have taken it for safe and free disposal the following day.
Fly tipping is an expensive problem for the general public, local authorities and the Environment Agency. Mr Bunn failed to discharge his responsibilities as an individual to the wider community.
In mitigation it was said that his actions were regrettable and he had expressed remorse. Through his solicitor he apologised to the Court and to all others involved in the case. He would not repeat the offence.
The magistrates told Mr Bunn that they were satisfied that he had committed the offence deliberately and it had proved to be unsightly and unpleasant for the public. It had turned out to be an expensive journey for him.
Rob Smith of the Environment Agency said: “This gets the message across to householders that we will trace those responsible for incidents of flytipping and we will prosecute if necessary.”
Rob Smith of the Environment Agency said: “This gets the message across to householders that we will trace those responsible for incidents of flytipping and we will prosecute if necessary.”
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