Man landed with £1,400 bill over waste he didn't dump
A man who paid to have household rubbish taken away has been hit with a £1,400 bill after the waste was illegally dumped.
The bags of rubbish were easily traced back to Wolverhampton resident Colin Tomlinson whose council tax details were among the piles of letters and documents thrown out.
The 42-year-old told city magistrates that he paid three men who called at his home in Cannock Road to remove the waste – including clothes and bedding – but admitted he made no attempt to check they were licensed to take the items.
The council subsequently received a complaint of fly-tipping in Wood Hayes Road, Wednesfield, on October 12 last year.
Tomlinson was interviewed by council public protection officers and admitted the waste was his. He said he had been having a clear-out and was approached on his doorstep by the three men who arrived in an unmarked van.
They offered to take the rubbish away for £30. He agreed to pay the money but admitted during the interview that he made no attempt to find out the identity of the men or whether they were authorised to take the waste.
The men did not provide a waste transfer note, receipt or business card – only a mobile phone number.
Tomlinson pleaded guilty to the offence and told the court that he never thought the men would fly-tip the rubbish. He was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £1,015.
The court case prompted Wolverhampton council to issue a warning to householders that they could find themselves in a similar position if they give their waste to scrap dealers without first checking whether they are registered.
The council said it was an offence if householders failed to take reasonable measures to ensure waste taken from their property was disposed of lawfully.
People should ask to see the full address and telephone number of the business and a copy of their waste carrier licence issued by the Environment Agency. Residents can then contact the council on 01902 551155 for staff to run a check on the business.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said it was vital that people took responsibility for the disposal of their waste. He said: "There are unscrupulous people out there who will happily take your money and tell you they will dispose of your waste – only to drive a short distance and dump it on the roadside.
"That is why the law says householders need to check that anyone who takes waste away is authorised to do so. The onus is on the owner of the waste to make sure it is disposed of appropriately."
