Man fined for leaving rubbish outside recycling centre

A LLANELLI man has been fined for leaving his rubbish outside the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Trostre.

The black bags had been fly-tipped at the entrance to the site.

The council’s environmental enforcement officers found evidence amongst the rubbish linking it to a man living in the Llwynhendy area.

He was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for littering.

It is hoped this fine will now act as a warning to others that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “It is unacceptable to leave rubbish at the entrances of our Household Waste Recycling Centres. I accept that the resident involved may have good intentions but this is fly-tipping and it encourages more people to do the same.

“We are asking residents to please regard the opening times and to act responsibly.”

Fly-tipping not only spoils our quality of life and enjoyment of the environment but can cause serious pollution of the environment and harm to human health as well to wildlife and farm animals. It can also have a detrimental effect on tourism in the county.

More serious offences could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and fines of up to £50,000 and/or up to five years in prison.

Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “Our recycling centres are important facilities that should not be misused. We do not want to fine people but will not hesitate to do so if they continue to spoil the county in this way. We are determined to improve the quality of the environment for both residents and visitors to Carmarthenshire.”

The county’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are open seven days a week. Trostre (Llanelli); Nantycaws (Carmarthen); Wernddu (Ammanford) and Whitland are open from 8.30am to 5pm and Llangadog 9am to 5pm during the winter months. All five sites are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For further information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk