Illegally dumped waste at Handy Cross, High Wycombe costs South London builder £1,550

A South London builder has received a conviction and fine after waste was found illegally dumped at Handy Cross, High Wycombe.

The 45 year old builder of Shirley Road, Croydon was convicted of failure in his duty of care after he employed an unidentified man to dispose of his trade waste and it ended up illegally dumped at Handy Cross, High Wycombe.

On Wednesday 13th September 2017 the builder attended High Wycombe Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence of failing in his duty of care after waste was found illegally dumped.

The court heard that in April 2017 a large amount of waste was found illegally dumped at Handy Cross, High Wycombe. Upon investigation evidence was found linking some of the waste with the 45 year old builder. Subsequently he was interviewed under caution by enforcement officers working on behalf of Buckinghamshire’s Waste Partnership.

In court the builder admitted that he had employed the services of someone he knew only as Michael to remove and dispose of waste that he had generated at a site he was working at in South London. He admitted that he did not check if Michael was registered with the Environment Agency authorising him to carry the waste and that no paperwork was completed.

The Magistrates fined the 45 year old £305, ordered him to pay full costs incurred by Buckinghamshire County Council of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £30 was levied and £215 compensation to be paid to High Wycombe District Council for the clear-up. This left him with a total bill of £1,550.

Wycombe District Council Cabinet Member for Environment Julia Adey, speaking on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: ‘This is a great example of the diligence of our officers in tracing the source of illegal waste and following through to a conviction – and it’s a stark reminder to tradespeople to ensure that trade waste is disposed of properly – an unidentified ‘man with a van’ is not sufficient.‘

Over 610 convictions have been secured against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences by the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire since November 2003.

Anyone can report dumped waste online at http://old.buckscc.gov.uk/fly.