WARNINGS about fly-tipping in Teignbridge have been issued after one transgressor’s illegal dumping cost him nearly £1,200.
Environmental protection teams say they will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found leaving rubbish in the wrong place.
They took Torquay offender Christopher Chalk to court after he unloaded potentially hazardous computer waste in a country lane at Daccombe.
Magistrates in Torquay ordered the 21-year-old to pay £1,166 in costs and a fine for not having the proper licence to get rid of waste.
People or businesses that transport, buy, sell or dispose of waste, or arrange for someone else to do so, must be registered.
The court heard last month that a Torbay computer business owner paid Mr Chalk to dispose of the goods – but he did not have a waste carrier’s licence.
The unwanted goods were later found in Orestone Lane by a member of the public who reported the offence to Teignbridge Council.
Community environment wardens began an investigation with the authority’s legal team bringing the case to court under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act.
Mr Chalk was convicted in his absence after he failed to turn up at a hearing for the second time on March 22.
He was fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66. The district council was awarded £440 costs.
The business owner, although cooperative with the investigation, was given a £300 fixed penalty notice for using an unauthorised waste carrier to get rid of the waste.
David Eaton, Teignbridge’s environmental protection manager, said this week: ‘Fly-tipping is illegal, unsightly, environmentally harmful and costly to the taxpayer.
‘It’s really important for people to remember that if they use someone who is not registered – and their rubbish is dumped – they can be held responsible too.
‘What may seem like a cheap job can end up being really expensive. In this case the business owner received a fixed penalty notice.’
He added: ‘We would urge anyone wanting to remove waste from their home or business to check that the removal company has got a waste carrier’s licence.
‘It’s easy to feel tempted into handing over rubbish to someone who offers to take it away for a bargain price, but it’s likely to end up dumped illegally somewhere.
‘This case is the result of our environment teams working closely with our legal team to produce this successful result which helps recuperate costs on behalf of the taxpayer.
‘We recognise that fly-tipping is a serious and important matter to our residents and we will continue to prosecute offenders when we have reliable evidence.’
Illegal dumping can be reported online at any time of the day by visiting www.teignbridge. gov.uk/reportit.
Teignbridge operates a freephone number for reporting environmental crime and welcome calls on 0800 328 6402.