Thanet District Council has brought two prosecutions for flytipping offences after rubbish was found in a Margate alleyway and in Millennium Way, Broadstairs.
In one prosecution a woman was fined £311 plus a massive £518 in costs and a £31 victim surcharge for a breach of the duty of care of her waste. The charge was in relation to waste found in Millennium Way, Broadstairs.
It is important to only use skip hire or waste management firms that have all the relevant documents to prove they are disposing of your waste legally. There are legal implications if your waste is found somewhere it shouldn’t be.
A waste carriers licence indicates that a business or an individual is registered to legally carry and dispose of rubbish. It’s a document that’s licenced by the Environment Agency and every waste disposal company must have one. It must be renewed at least every three years.
Without this certification, your rubbish could end up being illegally dumped or left at an unauthorised site and you will be liable.
To check search for the business name here or contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506506 and ask for a waste carrier validation check.
A second offender was fined £120 with £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge for a fly-tip in the alleyway that runs between Milton Avenue and Osborne Terrace, Margate.
‘Cracking down’
A Thanet council statement says: “Thanet District Council is determined to tackle environmental crime and its Streetscene Enforcement officers are cracking down on those who dump waste.
“The council is forced to invest considerable resources each year into cleaning up fly-tipped waste in the district and fully investigates sites where fly-tipping has taken place.
“All householders have a duty of care to ensure their waste is properly disposed of. It is why people should only give their waste to registered waste carriers. Not doing so can result in a fine of £50,000 and up to 5 years imprisonment.
“The message is clear – anyone found to be fly-tipping in the district can be assured that the council will seek the harshest penalties from the court.”
Anyone who witnesses instances of fly-tipping is encouraged to report it online or via the My Thanet App.
