A man has been fined £400 by magistrates and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £372.08 for illegally carrying waste.
William Bryan Dean, 46, of Clwyd Road, Penlan, Swansea, was convicted in his absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court in a prosecution brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that on December 12, 2009 the council’s environmental enforcement section was contacted by Dyfed-Powys Police who had stopped a vehicle in the Bonllwyn area of Ammanford which was carrying waste while the driver was not a registered waste carrier.
The driver was subsequently interviewed by environmental enforcement officers and admitted that he did not have the relevant licence.
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.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Head of Street Scene David Hughes 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.”
For information on how to register as a waste carrier contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
