A senior borough councillor has said he hoped fines of more than £1,000 would send out a message that fly-tipping in the area would not be tolerated.

Councillor Ian Fordham was speaking after two incidents in which rubbish was disposed of illegally in the borough.

In the latest incident a variety of items from a house clearance - including chairs, plant pots, and cardboard, was dumped in a layby near the village of Gnosall (pictured).

The owner was traced to an address in Nottingham and claimed he had paid £250 to a ‘specialist removal company’ he found via online marketplace, Gumtree, to get rid of the waste.

The man was given a £600 fixed penalty notice by Stafford Borough Council for allowing his waste to be disposed of illegally on the A518. He refused to give details of the company he had used, last month.

Councillor Fordham, Cabinet Member for Environment at the Borough Council, urged residents to ensure those offering to remove waste were registered to do so.

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 impact on the quality of life for our residents. Those residents are disgusted when people fly-tip in their community.

“It may seem like a cheap alternative paying someone to get rid of your rubbish - but if they are not a registered waste carrier then you leave yourself open to a fine or even prosecution.”

The borough council tips to avoid breaking the law are:

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

More information from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/alternative-waste-collectors

In a separate incident a delivery driver dumped a large black bag of domestic waste at industrial premises in Eccleshall. The man from Wimbourne in Dorset was hit with a £500 fixed penalty notice following the incident in June.  

Councllor Fordham added: “I'd urge anyone with information on those who are carrying out fly tipping to report it to us as we will always pursue those intent on spoiling our borough.”  

For more details on reporting environmental crimes go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/grimewatch

Press Release No 6318