Burry Port man's scrap metal offence
A Burry Port man has been ordered to pay more than £500 by the courts for illegally carrying scrap metal.
James Squires, aged 28, of Tan y Coed, was convicted in absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that Squires was stopped by police in Black Lion Road, Gorslas, on November 11 last year as part of a multi-agency operation targeting illicit rubbish dumpers across South West Wales. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were asked to attend the scene.
Squires told officers he had already been stopped by the Environment Agency earlier that morning in Landore, Swansea. He admitted he did not have the relevant licence for transporting waste and that despite being told by the Environment Agency that he needed a waste carriers licence, he had continued to carry scrap metal.
Officers sent two letters to Squires requesting that he attend an interview. However, he failed to respond and as a result was reported for summons.
Squires was fined £300 by magistrates and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £266.43.
The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping.
Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence.
“They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.
“Hopefully this fine will help to get the message across that anyone caught illegally transporting waste will be prosecuted through the courts – where the maximum penalty is £5,000.”
James Squires, aged 28, of Tan y Coed, was convicted in absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that Squires was stopped by police in Black Lion Road, Gorslas, on November 11 last year as part of a multi-agency operation targeting illicit rubbish dumpers across South West Wales. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were asked to attend the scene.
Squires told officers he had already been stopped by the Environment Agency earlier that morning in Landore, Swansea. He admitted he did not have the relevant licence for transporting waste and that despite being told by the Environment Agency that he needed a waste carriers licence, he had continued to carry scrap metal.
Officers sent two letters to Squires requesting that he attend an interview. However, he failed to respond and as a result was reported for summons.
Squires was fined £300 by magistrates and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £266.43.
The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping.
Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence.
“They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.
“Hopefully this fine will help to get the message across that anyone caught illegally transporting waste will be prosecuted through the courts – where the maximum penalty is £5,000.”
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