Man fined after his waste was found fly-tipped

A Carmarthen man has been fined after his waste was found fly-tipped.

Simon Paul Phillips, aged 46, of Morgan Street, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court.

The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers received found a report from a member of the public that a number of items of household waste had been dumped on a footpath near Morgan Street in Carmarthen.

They attended the scene and found a large quantity of household waste including two bed bases, a mattress, two TVs, carpet and a large cardboard box containing some documentation.

Evidence was found linking the waste to Phillips who admitted to the officers that he had paid someone to remove items a few days earlier and was surprised that they were on the nearby footpath.

He said he had not asked how or where the waste was being disposed of and did not make any checks to ascertain whether the person was registered as a waste carrier with Natural Resources Wales.

It cost the council £106.12 to remove the waste.

Phillips was fined £185 by magistrates and ordered to pay £393.15 towards prosecution costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “If residents have any excess household waste to dispose of they must make sure that any private individuals or companies they use are properly authorised to carry waste, if they don’t and their waste is found fly-tipped then they too could be prosecuted and fined.”

The council has a number of sites throughout the county for disposing of household waste and recycling and also operates a bulky waste collection service. For further information visit the council website or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.