Builder fined for being involved in flytippin

A SWANSEA builder has been sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge for failing to ensure that his waste was not disposed of legally.

Darren Thomas of Roderick Close, Cockett, pleaded guilty to an offence of flytipping contrary to section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act.

Carmarthen Magistrates sentenced the 49-year-old to a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £150 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The court heard that on October 18, 2013, Carmarthenshire County Council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty at Furnace Pond in Llanelli where they were responding to a complaint of fly tipping.

At the car park they saw a large quantity of waste that had been dumped including plasterboard, paint pots, concrete blocks, cardboard boxes, blue recycling bags and black refuse bags of household waste.

Evidence of an address linked to Thomas was found among the waste.

Enquiries revealed that Thomas, a builder, had been carrying out works at the address, in Gendros.

Thomas was interviewed under caution and stated that he had paid three men driving a Transit type vehicle £50 to take waste away from the property.

He did not ask the men if they had a waste carriers licence or where they were disposing of the waste.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said he hoped the case would help to raise awareness that fly-tipping is a criminal offence, and that people are also committing an offence if they fail to ensure their waste is not disposed of legally. He added: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping. We all have a part to play in keeping our communities clean and I would urge anyone with information which may help to catch offenders to please contact the council.”

You can report fly tipping online by visiting ilocal or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.