Using a ‘man with a van’ to get rid of her waste has landed a Bury woman with a bill for £1,900.
Simone Jackson found someone on Facebook to remove the rubbish, which was later found fly-tipped in Lowes Road, Bury.
Bury Council gave her a Fixed Penalty Notice of £400 for the offence, but she did not pay it.
Jackson, 38, of Broad Oak Lane, Bury was therefore prosecuted at Salford and Manchester Magistrates Court.
The court found her guilty of failing to comply with the householder’s duty of care in the disposal of household waste. She was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £250 victim surcharge and costs of £1,150.
Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “People are sick to death of fly-tipping. It’s a blot on the landscape, and costs council tax payers money to have it cleared up.”
Since June 2021, the council has issued 224 fixed penalties for fly tipping and littering and had 18 successful prosecutions for environmental crime.
Cllr Quinn added that there had been a noticeable increase in advertisements on social media for unlicensed waste removal services.
“Every individual and business has a duty of care to ensure they correctly dispose of their waste,” he said, “and many unsuspecting householders are being caught out by these rogue traders, drawn by their attractive low rates compared to legitimate operators.
“I urge residents to check their credentials before using them and remind the public that officers now have the power to issue £400 fixed penalty notices on householders who fail in their duty of care.”
Residents should ask any waste carrier for their address and telephone number, their waste carrier licence, and ask where their waste will be taken.
You can carry out an instant (and free) check of their credentials via the Environment Agency.
There are 21 recycling centres in Greater Manchester where residents can take their waste for disposal free of charge.
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