Rogue waste removal man leaves builder with fine after waste is dumped in a field

A builder was handed a large fine after using a rogue waste removal man to dispose of building waste.

On Thursday 15th November 2018, a 47 year old builder from Woodland Gardens, Isleworth appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence of failing in his duty of care in relation to the disposal of building waste.

The court heard that on Friday 23rd March 2018, enforcement officers from Buckinghamshire County Council attended a field off of Old Rectory Lane, Denham where they found the shocking sight of 95 small tipper truckloads of fly-tipped waste had been left after the field was vacated by an illegal traveller encampment.

On examining the waste, in one pile the officers found evidence tracing that portion of the material back to the 47 year old builder, who was interviewed under caution by council officers at Hounslow Police Station.

In court the 47 year old builder admitted that he had employed the services of an opportunist who had offered to remove and dispose of waste generated at a site he was working at in South London. He also admitted that he had been negligent and did not check if the individual was registered with the Environment Agency as an authorised waste carrier. No paperwork was completed.

The Magistrates fined the 47 year old builder £650, ordered him to pay costs incurred by Buckinghamshire County Council of £700 and levied a victim surcharge of £65. He was also ordered to pay £653 compensation to the landowner who has a total clear up bill in the region of £60,000.

South Bucks District Council Cabinet Member for Environment Luisa Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: ‘The key to stopping this kind of commercial fly tipping is to cut off the supply of waste to the criminals who use illegal dumping as part of their day-to-day business.

We do find that the building trade is frequently targeted by rogue waste carriers, and I’d like to remind builders that they have a duty of care to always check that a waste carrier has the right credentials, and to complete the necessary paperwork. When there’s written evidence, a carrier is much less likely to dump the waste illegally.‘

Illegal dumping can be reported at www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk.