Man fined for fly-tipping in countryside

Surveillance cameras installed by South Derbyshire District Council have helped to catch a fly-tipper illegally dumping waste in the countryside. Signage is displayed to highlight the cameras are in place.

Thomas Smith, 31, of Huxley Close, Derby, dumped mixed household and building waste, including a bath tub, window frames and empty paint tubs, in Staker Lane, Findern on Sunday, October 15.

The vehicle used as part of the fly-tipping was seized in a joint operation with Derbyshire Police.

Smith pleaded guilty to the illegal disposal of waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court.

He was ordered to pay £1,579.18.

Cllr Andy MacPherson, Chairman of the Environment and Development Services Committee at the District Council, said:

"We have a zero-tolerance attitude toward fly-tipping in South Derbyshire.

“Fly-tipping is a deliberate and thoughtless act. As well as being a blight on the environment, it is a source of pollution, a danger to public health and a hazard to wildlife. It also undermines legitimate waste businesses. 

“Failure to properly dispose of any type of waste is simply not acceptable and we will take action against anyone caught.

“We also urge members of the public to continue informing us about any fly-tipping they spot at www.southderbyshire.gov.uk so we can investigate.”

In the last 12 months, the District Council has taken six people to court for waste management offences and issued 11 fixed penalty notices of £400 for fly-tipping offences.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of their household waste at the recycling centre located at Park Road, Newhall. The Council also provides a free household waste collection service every Saturday morning for areas that are more than five miles away from the tip.

Information relating to the responsibilities around waste disposal can be found at environmentlaw.org.uk or by telephoning the Council’s Safer Neighbourhood Wardens on 01283 595968.

22 June 2018