A GWENDRAETH Valley man has been fined for two fly-tipping offences near Mynydd Mawr Hospital.
Ceri Jonathan Smith, aged 25, of Caeglass, Cross Hands, pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 2(1)(B) of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.
He was fined £160 by Carmarthen magistrates and ordered to pay £203.16 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
The court heard that around 15 to 20 black and blue bags of household rubbish were found dumped on two occasions in grass verges on the side of the road near Mynydd Mawr Hospital in October last year and earlier this year in January.
Evidence was found on both occasions linking the rubbish to Smith.
He was interviewed by the council’s environmental enforcement officers and admitted he was responsible for both offences.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping and is working hard to improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire.
“Not only does fly-tipping spoil our quality of life and enjoyment of the environment, but it can cause serious pollution and harm to human health and wildlife.
“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught breaking the law in this way. More serious cases can result in fines of up to 50,000 and/or up to five years in prison.”
On average 40 tonnes of rubbish is removed every week in Carmarthenshire and it costs the council over £2.2 million per year.
Cllr Jones added: “This money could be much better spent on other services, particularly at this time when there is a lot of pressure on budgets.”
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
