Man fined for illegal transport of waste

A NEATH man has been prosecuted by Carmarthenshire County Council for illegally carrying scrap metal.

Percy McAllister, aged 21, of Wharf Road Caravan Site, Briton Ferry Industrial Estate, Neath, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The court heard that police and council environmental enforcement officers stopped a Ford Transit Van carrying an exercise bike and metal shavings in Cross Hands as part of a multi-agency operation targeting scrap metal dealers.

The officers spoke to the driver and asked if he was registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier. He provided details of his brother’s permit number, who was the passenger in the vehicle.

He was then asked if he had any waste transfer notes for the scrap on the rear of the vehicle. He replied that he did not.

McAllister was cautioned and told that the matter would be referred to the council’s legal department for consideration of prosecution.

He was fined £50 by magistrates and ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

The council is working closely with the police, through the Community Safety Partnership, as part of a joint operation targeting the unauthorised movement of scrap metal and other waste in Carmarthenshire.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence. They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.

“Hopefully this fine will help to get the message across that anyone caught illegally transporting waste will be prosecuted.”