Wigan Council has successfully prosecuted an Atherton man who dumped bags of waste outside a household waste recycling centre on Boxing Day 2006.
David Evans, 40, formerly of Laburnum Avenue, Atherton pleaded guilty yesterday (6th March) at Wigan Magistrates Court to a charge of fly tipping bags of household waste. He was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 towards the investigation, the council’s legal costs and the clean up of the waste.
Evans was the tenth person to be prosecuted for dumping waste outside the Chanters household waste recycling centre while it was closed on Christmas and Boxing Day in 2006. CCTV cameras were set up after several tonnes of waste were dumped on the highway in 2005.
The Council’s Environmental Crime team ran the operation again during Christmas 2007 using CCTV linked to the council’s control room. It was hailed a success when only one person was seen dumping bags near the site.
Michell Woodburn, Safer Neighbourhoods Service Manager, welcomed the prosecution. She said:
“This result demonstrates the council’s commitment to tackling environmental criminals.
“We want to work with the community to raise awareness of environmental crime. Each year the council has to spend money clearing up after irresponsible people who dump their waste in our communities.”
If you wish to report fly tipping or witness someone dumping rubbish, the advice from the council is not to approach them and not to touch any waste. Instead, contact the council on 01942 404364 or by email on eshelpline@wigan.gov.uk.
Thirty five fly tippers in total have now been prosecuted by the council.
Notes to editors
Operation Santa ran from 1st December and finished on 1st January 2008.
Relevant Legislation:
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005
Contacts:
- Michell Woodburn, Safer Neighbourhoods Service Manager: 01942 827450
- Lee Haworth, Senior Investigation Officer, Environmental Crime Team: 01942 827646
