Don't hire a fly-tipper or you could be fined - warning

HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned that they could end up in court if they don’t dispose of their waste properly after two residents 

Homeowners could be given a hefty fine if their waste is fly-tipped — even if they paid someone else to get rid of their rubbish.

Two Rotherham residents were recently fined by magistrates after they paid others to remove waste for them.

The waste was later found fly-tipped at beauty spots in the Rotherham countryside.

Brogan Greatbatch (26), of Parklands View, Aston, was traced from waste dumped at Firsby Lane in Hooton Roberts.

She claimed to have paid an un-named man £50 to remove her rubbish.

Mahmut Celik (41), of Montgomery Mews, Wath, claimed to have paid £500 cash-in-hand to two men to remove waste from his house and garden. The waste was later found dumped at Cortworth Lane in Nether Haugh.

Neither Greatbatch nor Celik had checked to make sure the people who took away their waste were legitimate, such as asking to see a waste carrier’s licence or any documentation.

Sheffield magistrates ordered Greatbatch to pay a total of £530 in fines and costs and Celik was ordered to pay £988.98.

Members of the public should make sure that anyone removing rubbish has a valid waste carrier’s licence, and should ask to see the licence number.

Cllr Emma Hoddinott, Rotherham Borough Council’s cabinet member for waste, roads and community safety, said that many residents are unaware that if a rogue trader fly-tips their waste they could be prosecuted.

She said: “We have seen cases recently where people have asked a man with a van to remove household rubbish, often through places like Facebook, resulting in their waste being fly-tipped.

“Everyone should be aware that they are responsible for their own rubbish and if they haven’t used a proper waste firm they may end up in court.” 

More information for householders is available at https://tinyurl.com/ybfdqf3x