‘Even if you give your waste to someone else to dispose of, you are still responsible for that waste and where it ends up’
Waste found dumped in Gypsey Road, Bridlington, in May 2023(Image: East Riding Of Yorkshire Council)
A woman who paid two men to dispose of her waste has been ordered to shell out more than £600 by a court after the rubbish was found fly-tipped in Bridlington. The waste was discovered by East Riding Of Yorkshire Council streetscene enforcement officers on land in the Gypsey Road area in May 2023.
Following an investigation, the waste was linked to Emily Scurrah, of Bessingby Gate, Bridlington. Despite requests, she did not attend an interview under caution with officers so the case was taken to court.
Scurrah, 28, admitted in 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. During a hearing at Hull Magistrates’ Court in March, she pleaded guilty to an offence of failing in her duty of care to ensure her waste was disposed of legally.
She was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £459.15 along with a £48 victim surcharge.
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.
Residents can report any fly-tipping or suspicious activity to the council on 01482 393939, or online at www.eastriding.gov.uk/fly-tipping
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