A LLANELLI man has been fined £300 for illegally carrying scrap metal.
Percy Jones, of Maengwynne, was also ordered to pay £203.16 prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge by Carmarthen magistrates.
The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The court heard that Jones was stopped by police and council environmental enforcement officers on January 10 this year at Cross Hands Business Park as part of a multi-agency operation targeting scrap metal dealers.
He was driving a tipper tuck which was loaded with various items of scrap metal.
Although Jones had a valid Waste Carriers License, he had not completed any Waste Transfer Notes for the load he was carrying.
The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others.
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.
“It is important, not only to prevent fly-tipping, but also to prevent the increasing number of metal thefts throughout the country.”
The council works closely with the police, through the Community Safety Partnership, to tackle the unauthorised movement of scrap metal in Carmarthenshire.
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