Two householders prosecuted for fly tipping offences

Two householders have been ordered to pay fines and costs of more than £850 for fly tipping offences in the Darlington area.

Michael Richmond, of Wentworth Way, Darlington, was fined £220 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £88 for breaching Section 110 of the Environment Act 1995 after the case was heard in his absence at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (6 August).

The court heard that the fly tip was reported to the council on 19 March this year in a layby on Newton Lane. A civic enforcement officer attended and found a vanload sized pile of construction waste.

Evidence gathered linked the waste to Richmond who was invited to a voluntary interview but failed to attend. A notice was issued under Section 108(4)(c) and (l) of the Environment Act 1995 which required him to attend council offices for interview or make suitable alternative arrangements. He failed to do so, and the case was referred to the court.

Gary Harris, of Fenby Avenue, Darlington, was also found guilty in his absence at an earlier hearing of a breach of Section 110 of the Environment Act 1995. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £150 costs and a victim surcharge of £88.

Our civic enforcement team began an investigation following a report of a fly tip in a layby near Hurworth Moor on 7 March this year. Numerous bags of household waste were found, and evidence gathered linked them to Harris.

He was invited to a voluntary interview but failed to attend and was issued a notice under Section 108(4)(c) and (l) of the Environment Act 1995 which required him to attend council offices for interview or make suitable alternative arrangements. He failed to do so, and the case was referred to the court.

Amanda Riley, our cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “These are the latest cases to reach court and is a stark reminder that we will take action against those who flout the law.

“We would also remind householders that if you pay someone, other than the council, to take your waste away, you should always check they have a waste carrier licence and ask for a waste transfer note. If your waste is fly tipped, you could be fined along with the individual or company you paid to remove it.

“Our staff work hard to keep our streets and back lanes clean and fly tipping of any kind will not be tolerated.”

The Environment Agency issues waste carrier licences. You can check if a company has a licence using the online register at https://bit.ly/CheckENV

Information on the correct means of disposing of all types of waste can be found on the council’s website www.darlington.gov.uk. 

Most household items can be disposed of for free at the tip – for more details visit www.darlington.gov.uk/tip. If you can’t get to the tip you can book a Bulky Waste Collection – for more details visit www.darlington.gov.uk/bulkywaste.

You can report a fly-tip, or anyone you see fly-tipping, online at www.darlington.gov.uk/reportit.