An illegal waste carrier has been prosecuted as part of a crackdown on flytipping.
Warren Richards, from Lynsted, near Sittingbourne, was stopped by police in Sheppey Way, Bobbing.
The officers were carrying out checks on vehicles suspected of fly-tipping as part of Op Assist.
The joint operation between the police and Swale Borough Council (SBC) targets illegal waste operations
Richards, who is in his 30s, was stopped and failed to provide the necessary paperwork.
This included a waste transfer note, and he was issued a fixed penalty notice, which he failed to pay.
He was taken to court, and on April 24 admitted failing to provide the waste transfer notes when he appeared before Medway magistrates.
The court ordered him to pay a total of £852 in fines and costs.
During the hearing, Richards told magistrates that he no longer transports waste.
SBC says the prosecution demonstrates its action has “helped reduce the number of illegal waste carriers operating” in the borough.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of the environmental services and climate change committee, said: “We can all recognise that fly-tipping is a major issue within Swale, with our rural areas routinely being used as dumping grounds costing you, the taxpayer, money to clear while damaging our natural environment.
“One of the tools we can use to combat this is to regulate the movement of waste within Swale, and that is why it is so important for waste carriers to be properly licensed and provide waste transfer notes.
“This helps us make sure that the waste is being responsibly disposed of and won’t end up down our country lanes, and our regular Swale-wide op assists are important for us to be able to enforce these rules.
“It is great to see that these joint operations are leading to successful court action and working to reduce the number of unlawful waste carriers within our borough.
“We need to work together to keep Swale clean; please be wary of cheap waste removal companies, and always make sure you get a transfer note, because if fly-tipping is tracked back to you, you could potentially face a fixed penalty notice too.”
Fly-tippers often target households on social media or local advertising. They can lure customers in with cheap deals to dispose of unwanted furniture, building rubble or garden waste.
However, these unlicensed waste carriers dump the waste, often in country lanes.
Householders or small businesses found to be using criminals to dispose of their waste can and are being prosecuted by local authorities with fixed penalty notices.
Failure to pay can result in court action where fines can be significantly larger.
Homeowners should instead check whether someone is licensed to carry waste by visiting the Environment Agency website, or by calling 03708 506506.
You can also report fly-tipping you see on Swale Borough Council’s website.
It also helps if householders receive a written receipt or transfer note, including contact details, description of waste removed and details of where the waste is being taken to.
