Llanelli man fined for business waste offences

A Llanelli man has been ordered to pay more than £500 in fines and court costs for offences in relation to his business waste.
Ishtiaq Ahmed Sheikh, aged 67, Dillwyn Street, pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 47 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court.
The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers were inspecting the rear lanes of Station Road on June 2 last year when they saw an overflowing trade waste bin belonging to Supersave.
Sheikh, who runs the business, had already been issued with a section 47 notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to make sure that the waste is stored correctly and that the lid of the bin is closed at all times.
On June 24, the officers called at the shop and then at Sheikh’s home address. He told them that he had arranged for the trade bin to be removed from his premises as he was no longer generating any waste.
However, the officers explained that this was not the case as there was a litter bin in the shop and he needed a trade waste agreement in place to dispose of this waste.
As Sheikh was left with no way to dispose of his waste he was in breach of the section 47 notice issued to him on February 18 and was issued with a fixed penalty notice as a result.
However, despite being sent a reminder letter and additional time to pay because it had been sent to the business instead of his home address, Sheikh failed to make a payment and was prosecuted in court as a result.
He was fined a total of £200 (£100 for each offence) and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £343.10 plus a £20 victim surcharge.
All businesses must have an agreement in place with a fully licensed waste company to make sure that any waste produced during the course of their business, is stored, transported and disposed of without harming the environment; known as their ‘Duty of Care.’
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The majority of businesses in Carmarthenshire are compliant with the legislation but we will not hesitate to take action against those who are not. Duty of Care is one of the main ways to combat fly-tipping.”
For further information visit the council website or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.