A PLASTERER has been ordered to pay over £800 after waste connected to his business was found amongst a flytip.
Durham County Council took legal action against Dale Hudson, of Dene Road in Ferryhill, after waste found in a flytip on farmland, near the A167 between Ferryhill and Chilton, had details of Hudson’s company, Thomas Plastering. A letter was sent to Hudson asking him to contact the council about the rubbish.
When speaking to a neighbourhood warden, Hudson said that he had arranged for a third party to remove any waste generated by his business. However, Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that Hudson would not give any further details about the name of the third party at that stage. The council therefore issued Hudson with two notices requiring him to attend an interview to assist the council with a flytipping investigation.
Hudson then provided a name for the third party but would not give the contact details. He did not respond to any further contact made by the council, and he failed to attend the interview.
Magistrates found Hudson, 42, guilty of failing to comply with his duty of care regarding disposal of waste resulting in it being flytipped and failing to assist with a flytipping investigation. He was ordered to pay a fine of £150, £600 costs and a £60 victim surcharge, totalling £810.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Whether disposing of waste yourself, or paying a licensed provider to remove it on your behalf, your waste is always your responsibility.
“When arranging for a third party to dispose of rubbish, it is so important that you make sure they have a valid waste transfer license. By not doing so, you run the risk of it being disposed of illegally which can result in you paying the fine.
“We know that our communities value the work we do to tackle flytipping, and we will investigate every incident that is reported to us. As this case shows, by not assisting with an investigation you can face legal action. We would encourage everyone to make sure they know where their waste is going and take every effort to ensure that it is disposed of responsibly.”
More information about disposing of waste in County Durham can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/recycling
