Goole man ordered to pay £1,242 after rubbish was dumped in Gilberdyke

A man from Goole has been ordered to pay a total of £1,242.19 after he paid someone to take away his rubbish and it was dumped at the side of the road in Gilberdyke.

Builders’ waste including tiles and plaster, large amounts of cardboard, wood, polythene and car mats were found fly-tipped on a grass verge in Sandholme Road, Gilberdyke, in October last year.

Andrew Howcroft of Goole, pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care by not checking he was using an authorised waste carrier when he appeared before Beverley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 27 June.

Mr Howcroft was fined £280 and was ordered to pay £932.19 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. The court heard the streetscene enforcement team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council received a report of fly-tipping in Sandholme Road, Gilberdyke, on October 30 last year. The waste was cleared by the council and evidence was found relating to Mr Howcroft.

Mr Howcroft told the court he had hired someone to take away his rubbish, which they then fly-tipped. East Riding of Yorkshire Council continues to warn residents they are responsible for disposing of their own waste properly and legally.

When hiring anyone to take away rubbish, residents are urged to always follow the council’s SCRAP Code (SEE BELOW) which advises what checks they need to make.

To operate legally any firm that removes waste has to be registered with the Environment Agency as a licensed waste carrier.

Residents themselves could face an unlimited fine in court if any fly-tipped waste can be traced back to where it came from.

Also anyone caught fly-tipping could be ordered to pay a £400 fixed penalty notice and, if unpaid, the issue will be taken to court, where they could face an unlimited fine or even imprisonment.

Paul Tripp, head of streetscene services at the council, said: “We encourage residents to follow our SCRAP Code when hiring anyone to take away their rubbish or they could, as in this case, find themselves in court.

“The council investigates all reports of fly-tipping and any evidence found will be used to take further action which could include a fixed penalty or even prosecution in court.”

Residents are urged to take any waste that can’t go in their bins to their local household waste recycling site, or hire a licensed waste carrier to take the rubbish away, or use the council’s own bulky waste collection service.

Fly-tipping information:                                                            

• To find your nearest household waste recycling site visit the council’s website www.eastriding.gov.uk and search for ‘recycling’.
• For guidance on how to check if a person is a licensed registered waste carrier visit the council’s website www.eastriding.gov.uk/fly-tipping
• The council provides a service offering to take away bulky waste, which costs £30 for up to five items, and can be booked through the website. Just search for ‘bulky waste collections’.
• Residents can report any fly-tipping or suspicious activity to the council on 01482 393939, or online at www.eastriding.gov.uk/fly-tipping
• People are asked not to touch any fly-tipped waste or approach anyone they see fly-tipping.