Two households had paid him to dispose of their rubbish legally
Rubbish dumped on Serridge Lane in Coalpit Heath was reported to South Gloucestershire Council(Image: South Gloucestershire Council)
A man has been ordered to pay £4,500 after dumping waste on a country lane.
Two households had paid him to dispose of their rubbish legally – but it was found strewn across the rural road.
The waste at Serridge Lane in Coalpit Heath was reported to South Gloucestershire Council on Monday, September 16 last year. The council’s environmental enforcement officers searched through it and discovered paperwork that led officers to two addresses.
They found that both householders had each paid £140 for waste to be removed from their homes. They were shown photos of the waste and each identified some – but not all – as rubbish they had paid to be properly disposed of.
Further enquiries led officers to Royston Tucker, the sole trader of R&R Waste Clearance Ltd, as the man the householders both paid to remove their waste.
Tucker, 34, of Alexander Road, Frenchay was interviewed by the council’s environmental enforcement officers in December, where he admitted picking the waste up from both addresses and fly-tipping it on the afternoon of September 14.
He appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday (May 12) where he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failing in his duty of care regarding retaining any waste transfer notes required.
He was ordered to pay a fine of £3,000, along with a £1,000 victim surcharge and the council’s costs of £525, making a total of £4,525.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I hope this latest prosecution acts as a deterrent to anyone who fails in their duty of care for waste disposal. If you dump waste illegally in South Glos, you will be held accountable.
“Fly-tipping is not just an eyesore – it’s a crime that damages our environment and burdens our communities. We urge residents to always check that waste carriers are properly licensed and to report any suspicious activity.
“Residents are advised to be wary of businesses or people advertising waste clearances on social media sites such as Facebook.
“There are a number of legitimate options for waste removal, including the council’s large household waste collection service.
“If you hire a third-party to dispose of your waste, always ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken.
“Prosecutions like these protect our environment and create cleaner and safer places for our communities. These are key priorities of the Liberal Democrat/Labour partnership.”
How to get rid of waste legally
- Residents and businesses are advised to only give their rubbish to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier
- Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.
- Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency
- Check whether the waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or by checking on their website
- Ask for a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.
Household waste can also be taken to the council’s Sort It recycling centres where it can be disposed of at no cost. Find out more at www.southglos.gov.uk/sortitcentres
Fly-tipping can be reported by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping