A woman from Bridlington has been prosecuted after waste belonging to her was found fly-tipped in the town.
Rubbish owned by Emily Scurrah of Bessingby Gate, Bridlington, was discovered dumped on land in Gypsey Road in May 2023.
Scurrah pleaded guilty to an offence of failing in her duty of care to ensure her waste was disposed of legally, when she appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Friday 20 March.
She was fined £120 and was ordered to pay costs of £459.15 and a £48 victim surcharge.
The court heard a pile of general waste was found on land in Gypsey Road, Bridlington, on 13 May 2023 by streetscene enforcement officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Following an investigation, evidence was found linking the waste to Scurrah.
Despite requests, she did not attend an interview under caution with officers, so the case was taken to court.
Scurrah admitted at court that she had paid two men to take away her waste, but she had not made checks to ensure the men were authorised waste carriers.
Residents are responsible for disposing of their own waste properly and legally by using household wheelie bins provided or by taking larger items of waste to their local household waste recycling site.
They can also hire a licensed waste carrier to take the rubbish away. To operate legally any firm that removes rubbish needs to be registered with the Environment Agency as a licensed waste carrier.
To ensure the person or firm is legitimate, people using them must always check where their waste is going, get an official receipt and note down the registration number of any vehicles used.
Carl Skelton, director of streetscene services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Waste found dumped, like in this case, could have easily been put in a wheelie bin at home, which are provided by the council.
“Even if you give your waste to someone else to dispose of, you are still responsible for that waste and where it ends up.
“Fly-tipping is never acceptable.”
Anyone caught fly-tipping in the East Riding could be ordered to pay a fixed penalty of up to £1,000 or the case could be taken to court, where they face an unlimited fine or even imprisonment.
In addition, any vehicles used in connection with the fly-tipping of waste can be seized and destroyed.
