Man in court after his waste was found fly-tipped

A GWENDRAETH Valley man has been given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates after construction waste from his property was found fly-tipped.

Rhys Ellis Sheldon, aged 23, of Maesglas, Pontyates, was also ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs and clean-up costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to the offence contrary to Section 34(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court.

The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of construction waste that had been fly-tipped in a grass verge on the side of a road in Pontantwn. It included plasterboard cut offs, tiles, wood and paper.

The officers carried out an investigation and traced the waste back to Sheldon, who had recently purchased a property in Maesglas, Pontyates.

He admitted to the officers during interview that between February 14 and 27 he had passed construction waste from the property to scrap metal dealers. He also admitted that he had not checked that the person, to whom he transferred his waste, was a registered waste carrier. He conceded that he had taken no steps to make sure that the waste was not illegally tipped.

Householders are now being reminded to make sure that anyone they employ to remove any type of waste from their home is licensed to do so.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “If you pay someone to get rid of your waste and they are not registered – you will be held responsible if they dump your rubbish illegally.

“We all have a part to play in keeping our communities clean, if everyone takes responsibility for their own rubbish, we can all help to drive the professional fly-tippers out of business.”

For a full list of registered waste carriers visit www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or call 0300 065 3000.