Hope Maintenance and its director, Garry Ridley, pleaded guilty to three charges at Hereford Magistrates court on 22 February 2022.
The company and director were ordered to pay a total of £318.00 in fines and costs.
The court heard that in June 2021, enforcement officers from Herefordshire Council investigated a report of fly-tipping on private land at Caplor Farm in Hereford, where Hope Maintenance is based. Officers found evidence of fly-tipping and carried out a full investigation. Garry Ridley was discovered to be promoting waste collection services on Hope Maintenance’s Facebook page. He admitted collecting waste from an address in Hereford for £25.00 in cash. He then dumped the waste in a field at Caplor Farm to save paying to dispose of the waste legally.
Hope Maintenance received a fine of £100.00, was ordered to pay costs of £100 and received a victim surcharge of £34.00. Garry Ridley was fined £50.00 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34.00.
Marc Willimont, Herefordshire Council’s head of public protection, says:
“Although we are very disappointed with the low level of fines and costs awarded by the court, despite the evidence we provided, we are pleased this case was proven. We very much hope it will deter others from breaking the law by exploiting their own land to dispose of their waste.
“Unlawful waste disposal and fly-tipping costs council tax payers tens of thousands of pounds every year. Businesses do this to avoid the cost of disposing of their waste lawfully. All businesses must ensure appropriate measures are in place so the waste they produce is disposed of correctly. Businesses must also have documentation to show who they have transferred the waste to and keep those records for at least two years. Anyone found fly-tipping waste will be prosecuted.”
The maximum penalty for fly-tipping is a £50,000 fine and/or five years’ imprisonment.
The council’s community protection team regularly carries out spot checks on waste carriers. The team investigates unlawful waste disposal and fly-tipping cases reported via Herefordshire Council’s website or by calling 01432 261761.
Residents and businesses can visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling for information about responsible, legal waste disposal.
