Man fined for continually putting rubbish out on wrong days

A CARMARTHEN man has been fined £200 for continually putting his rubbish out on the wrong days.

David Lee Frost, aged 26, of Barnsfield Terrace, was also ordered to pay £164.15 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge by Carmarthen magistrates.

He failed to attend court and was convicted in absence to an offence under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The court heard that since Friday, July 13 2012 when Frost moved into Barnsfield Terrace, the council’s environmental enforcement section has received numerous complaints of rubbish bags being put out when it isn’t collection day.

Following the first complaint, the officers attended the area and found evidence that the rubbish belonged to Frost.

He told the officers that he had recently moved to Carmarthen from the Birmingham area and he was given advice regarding the council’s recycling scheme works and told what day his collection was.

A further complaint was made on Tuesday, September 3 2012 that large amounts of rubbish had again been left on the pavement; the collection day for Barnsfield Terrace was a Monday.

Officers again spoke to Frost and also sent him a letter and information pack.

However, the council continued to receive complaints and even had to arrange for extra collections to be made to stop the rubbish being spread all over the road and to prevent vermin.

On Thursday, July 11 2013 a blue bag containing compost (which is not permitted in blue bags) was found outside Frost’s house. He admitted to officers that he had put it there. He was issued with a legal notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 warning him not to do it again.

However, on Wednesday, October 2 2013 another blue recycling bag was found on the pavement outside Frost’s house. Officers called at the property and Frost confirmed the bag was his before taking it inside and closing the door on them.

He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £100 which was delivered to his address that same day with an accompanying letter. A reminder was also sent on November 4 last year; however it was never paid.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council is committed to clearing up Carmarthenshire and bags of rubbish that are left littering the streets for days on end will not be tolerated.

“If a resident continually ignores the council’s advice we have no choice but to issue a fine or prosecute them in court.

“I hope residents take notice of this case and act responsibly to reduce the amount of rubbish littering our streets.”

Householders are asked not to put their rubbish out before 6pm the night before it is due to be collected.