Cardiff Council has secured 3 prosecutions for waste offences. Two offences were for carrying waste without a valid waste carrier’s licence and one for a business waste offence.
Nick Hands was stopped and questioned on a multi-agency and police stop and search operation in March and admitted carrying waste without the correct authorisation to do so. He was fined £525 with costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £15.00 each
In April, Jason Wesley Kerr was also questioned on a joint stop and search operation and admitted carrying waste without the correct authorisation to do so. He was also fined £525 with costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £15.00 each.
Waste carriers who carry waste for profit must ensure they are fully licensed to carry waste. A Waste Carriers Licence can be obtained from the Environment Agency.
Debbie Witts, owner of a Cardiff flower shop was successfully prosecuted for failing to provide details of how she disposes of her business waste. A waste transfer note request was sent to Ms Witts for her to provide information on how she disposes of her business waste. Ms Witts failed to provide the requested information and was then issued with a fixed penalty notice, and subsequently not paid. She was prosecuted in Cardiff Magistrates court and fined £300, £200 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Under the Environmental protection Act 1990, it is an offence to dispose of business waste at any unlicensed site or to pass waste to anyone who is not authorised to carry it.
A Council spokesperson said, “The laws are very clear on carrying and disposing of waste and are in place to ensure our environment remains as clean as possible. There is no excuse to carry and dispose of waste illegally as the City has many legitimate sites for business and household use. If people continue to ignore the law in this context and are caught, we will prosecute. It is hoped that these prosecutions act as a warning to others to obey these important laws and regulations and help us protect our environment.”
