Fly tippers in Swansea warned about prosecution

Fly tippers and litter bugs are being warned they will face prosecution if they are caught illegally dumping litter in Swansea.

The warning follows the fourth successful prosecution in the last two months by Swansea Council’s Enforcement and Litter Team.

The latest incident resulted in a Portmead man being hit with almost £900 in fines and costs after tipping a van load of waste in a lane at Mynydd Newydd Road, Tirdeunau.

Mathew Membury pleaded guilty to illegally tipping waste and was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £470 along with a £20 victim surcharge and £180 criminal court charge.

Recent cases since October also include fines for residents that have either fly-tipped, put out domestic waste on the wrong day or have been caught throwing litter on the ground.

All of cases have appeared in court and have resulted in further fines and costs totalling more than £2,000.

Cllr David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said: “Littering and fly-tipping are something that we are keen to stamp out in Swansea.

“Residents want their streets kept clean and free of litter and are fully supportive of any action we take to ensure this happens.

“Issues such as fly-tipping can have a devastating impact on local communities. We always need the assistance of residents to tell us when the incidents occur so we can successfully prosecute those who fly-tip.”

In its efforts to tackle litter, the council’s external litter enforcement team is also continuing to patrol public areas to issue fixed penalties to anyone caught throwing litter on the ground.

Cllr Hopkins said: “There really isn’t any excuse for anyone who is caught. We have plenty of litter bins, cigarette bins and dog fouling bins that the public can use to dispose of litter.”