Llanelli man to pay £2,200 after rubbish found fly-tipped

A LLANELLI man has been ordered to pay a total of £2,200 after a load of rubbish was found dumped in the old sewage works in Carway.

Jamie Lee Curran, aged 25, of Maengwynne, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for having aided, assisted or participated in the illegal deposit of controlled waste and an offence under the Environmental Act 1995 for intentionally obstructing an authorised officer in the exercise or performance of his powers or duties.

The court heard that in May last year council environmental enforcement officers received a report of a large amount of household rubbish had been dumped in the old sewage works in Carway.

The officers found evidence linking the rubbish to a house in Llanelli and made contact with the home owners who admitted that the waste was theirs.

They said that they had paid Curran and another person, who was the driver of the vehicle, to take the waste away for them at a cost of £50 per load. There were four loads altogether so they had paid them a total of £200.

After a notice under section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 was served on Curran, he told officers he did not know the driver, but had seen a “professional looking man in a hi-vis vest” collecting scrap/waste from his local area. He said he sent the man to the house but denied having any involvement with the incident, despite witnesses saying that they had seen him help to load the vehicle.

Curran was sent another letter which included an interview by post questionnaire, in which, he again stated that he did not know anything about the incident.

He was fined £600 by magistrates (£300 for each offence) and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £1,570.00 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Not only is fly-tipping a criminal offence, but it is a blight on the landscape, a threat to wildlife and it damages our environment.

“Hopefully this case will send out a message that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and anyone caught fly-tipping will be prosecuted.”

Residents are being reminded that there are five household waste recycling centres throughout the county and the council also has a bulky waste collection service for a small charge. You must make sure that anyone removing waste from your premises are authorised to do so. Ask for their full address and telephone number and to see their waste carriers licence issued by the Natural Resources Wales / Environment Agency. For an instant waste carrier validation check call 08708 506 506 or visit their website.

For more information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.