Builders waste dumped at Handy Cross costs man £2,782
A man has been ordered to pay £2,782 after builder’s waste was found dumped on site of illegal encampment at Handy Cross, High Wycombe.
On Wednesday 15th August 2018, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, a 41 year old man of Pipewell Road, Carshalton pleaded guilty to offences relating to waste which was dumped illegally at Handy Cross, High Wycombe in April 2017.
The court heard that on Tuesday 25th April 2017, investigators from the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire examined multiple deposits of illegally dumped waste on at the former Wycombe Sports Centre site at Handy Cross, High Wycombe. The waste had been deposited in association with a major illegal encampment.
The investigators found details in one of the dumped loads which showed that the waste had come from work carried out at an address at Balham, South London. The householder at that address provided details for the builder who had carried out work at the property and who had dealt with the waste from the job. A 41 year old man was subsequently interviewed at a London police station.
Although he claimed he had made some checks that the carrier was properly registered, the 41 year old man admitted that he had not in fact made the checks required by law, had paid by cash, and not obtained the required paperwork. He denied any knowledge of, or involvement with the illegal dumping.
The fact that the waste carrier had not been properly identified together with the lack of paperwork meant that it proved impossible to trace them.
The Magistrates fined the 41 year old man £1,000 for failing in his duty of care regarding the waste. Costs were ordered to a total of £1,682.
A victim surcharge of £100 was also imposed making a total to pay of £2,782.
Wycombe District Council Cabinet Member for Environment Julia Adey, speaking on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: ‘Unfortunately, this dumping had to be cleared at local taxpayers’ expense as the land is owned by Wycombe District Council.
The simplest way for builders and householders to avoid being liable like this is to refuse to pay by cash. If the builder here had made any kind of traceable payment rather than cash he would have been a witness rather than the defendant, and would have avoided a large fine and a criminal record.‘
In August 2018, the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire launched its SCRAP Fly-tipping campaign, which urges anyone, either individuals or businesses, to ensure that they act on their legal duty of care to ensure that anyone who takes their waste away is registered and bona fide.
Illegal dumping can be reported at www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk.
