Llanelli Man Fined for Builders Waste Offence

A Llanelli man contracted to carry out building has been prosecuted for offences under the Environmental Protection Act.

Kenneth Lewis pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to the offences.

Rhian Young, prosecuting for Carmarthenshire County Council, said that on Friday February 14, 2014, environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in Llanelli inspecting rear lanes.

To the rear of Brynmor Road, Llanelli, two large builders bags of sand and a large quantity of construction waste comprising of waste wood, insulation, builders rubble and plaster board had been deposited.

On February 24 environmental enforcement officers called and spoke to the homeowner who explained that he had work ongoing at the property. He identified the person responsible for placing the waste in the lane as Ken Lewis who had been contracted to carry out the work on his property.

On March 12 officers once again inspected the rear of the property and found that the waste was still in place and additional items had been added.

Officers inspected the rear lane once again on April 2 and found that at some point between their visit on March 12 and April 2 the waste had been removed from the lane.

Mr Lewis, of Ynys Las, Llanelli, was interviewed and explained that the waste was put in the lane to allow more room to work as the garden area was small. He stated that the waste was placed in the lane before Christmas 2013 and was removed during March 2014. He explained that he had not intended to leave the waste in the lane for such a length of time but explained that the weather had deteriorated and they were unable to carry on working.

When asked where the waste was taken 68-year-old Mr Lewis admitted to taking the waste to Trostre Civic Amenity Site sometime during March 2014. He explained that he thought he was doing right by removing the waste and taking it to the local tip.

It was explained to Mr Lewis that the site he disposed of the waste was licensed to accept household waste only and that he should have disclosed that he was acting as a business and the waste was not his own.  He did not have a waste carriers licence but thought he was covered by his sons’ waste carriers licence as he was doing the work on his sons’ behalf.

He was fined £135 and ordered to pay costs of £601.17 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Businesses have a responsibility to ensure reasonable measures are taken to dispose of their waste properly. Hopefully this fine will act as a warning to businesses throughout Carmarthenshire that we will prosecute those that flout the law.”