A senior councillor has repeated a call for residents to check who is taking their waste after a man was ordered to pay more than £1,000 when rubbish was dumped illegally in Stafford Borough.

Councillor Ian Fordham made his comments after a court imposed fines and costs of nearly £1200 on a Stoke on Trent man for a fly tipping offence.

A large amount of waste, including bathroom fittings, wooden pallets, and general household rubbish had been left at a layby on the Newcastle Road, in Mill Meece, a hamlet near Eccleshall in the north of the borough.

Mohammed Ali Khadir told Stafford Borough Council he had paid £35 to two guys with a white van to get rid of some rubbish which was ‘cheaper than a skip’. He was given a £200 fixed penalty notice but, when it was not paid, was taken to court by the council.

The forty-year-old of Stonor Street, Stoke on Trent, admitted a breach of a ‘Household Duty of Care’ charge this month (January) - which means a person must ensure their waste is disposed of properly.

He was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £900, and a victim surcharge of £80 for the offence last September by magistrates at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Councillor Fordham, the Cabinet Member for Environment at the borough council said: “We urge people once again to please check that a person offering to take your rubbish is registered to do so.

“It may seem like it is cheaper than hiring a skip to pay £35 to a white van man to get rid of your waste - but if they are not a registered waste carrier then you leave yourself open to a fine or even prosecution.”

Stafford Borough Council agreed last week (Thursday 18 January) to increase fixed penalty notices for fly tipping to £1,000 - with breaching the ‘Household Waste Duty of Care’ rising to £600.

He continued: “Fly tipping, littering and other environmental crimes are a blight on our communities. They can cause environmental damage, they attract anti-social behaviour, make areas look untidy, and have an adverse impact on the quality of life for our residents.

“Private householders are liable for their waste until it is collected from them - and this must be done by a registered waste carrier. I’d encourage everyone to follow our advice which will help reduce fly tipping incidents in our borough - and prevent you facing a large fine or even a criminal charge.”

Some tips to avoid breaking the law:

• Always check credentials of people offering to take rubbish environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers  
• Ask where they are going to dispose of the waste 
• Always get a receipt 

For more information www.staffordbc.gov.uk/alternative-waste-collectors

You can contact the council in confidence to report environmental crimes at grimewatch@staffordbc.gov.uk or 01785 619000.

Press Release No 6100