Pontypool Woman Fined After Waste Found Dumped In Local Stream
A Pontypool woman has been fined after her household waste and recycling was fly tipped in a local stream.
Tasha Robinson, 27, of Upper Park Terrace, claims to have paid an unknown man with a van to dispose of around 20 black bags of waste in March this year.
The bags, containing predominantly food waste and recycling, were later found dumped in a stream at Crumlin Road in Pontypool.
Ms Robinson pleaded guilty to ‘failing to take reasonable measures to secure that the transfer of household waste was only to an authorised person’, at Cwmbran Magistrates’ court on 7 November 2016, and was fined £300 with a victim surcharge of £30. The council was awarded full costs of £237.65.
Councillor Gwyneria Clark, executive member for planning and public protection at Torfaen council, said: “Most of this waste could have been disposed of by Miss Robinson free of charge at the kerbside as part of her weekly recycling collections.
“She did not ask any questions of the person she claims to have handed her rubbish over to, or check that they were legally allowed to dispose of the waste, and this is the result.
“We are committed to making Torfaen a cleaner, greener place to live and will not tolerate fly tipping in the borough. If residents are using a tradesperson to dispose of their waste then I would urge them to check that the person is registered and legally allowed to dispose of waste on their behalf.”
Two thirds of all illegally dumped waste in Wales comes from residential households, and householders have a legal responsibility to ensure that their waste is disposed of properly. Failing to do so can result in fines of up to £5,000 on conviction in the magistrates’ court or an unlimited fine if convicted in the crown court.
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