A MAN who dumped rubbish in a country lane at Warrington has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 for fly tipping.
He was convicted in his absence after failing to turn up at the court in Warrington.
The court heard Matthew Howe, 47, of Halliwell Road, Prestwich, Manchester, advertised waste disposal services without a licence and then dumped waste at Waterworks Lane in Winwick.
Howe was unable to produce the relevant licence or documentation to carry the waste when contacted by the council, but at first pleaded not guilty to fly tipping offences at an earlier hearing after an arrest summons was issued to bring him to court.
He then failed to attend Warrington Combined Court on and was found guilty in his absence after magistrates heard the council’s evidence. He was fined £1,760 and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge and costs of £500 – a total of £2,430.
After the hearing, Cllr Judith Guthrie (pictured), Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection said: “This is another example of an unlicensed individual offering a waste collection service for money – then irresponsibly dumping it with total disregard for the local environment and community.
“Residents should always ensure that anyone who takes their waste away is authorised and certified by their local council to do so. If not, residents are also at risk of receiving a fine for improper waste disposal.
“It is important that people check that anyone who offers to take their waste away is authorised and certified by their local council to do so, as they are legally responsible for the disposal of their waste and we don’t want them to fall victim to these unlicensed operators and to face the possibility of a fine”.
Residents can provide any information in relation to fly tipping incidents via the council’s website at warrington.gov.uk/flytipping
For more information about licences and permits, visit warrington.gov.uk/licencesandpermits
