Rogue waste collector prosecuted for multiple fly-tipping offences
Opportunist lands hefty fine and criminal record.
A man who opportunistically collected waste from building projects and house renovations, as a way to make a quick profit, has seen his actions land him a hefty fine and a criminal record, after being caught fly-tipping on five separate occasions.
Daniel Morris, age 29, from Feltham, pleaded guilty at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday 29 June 2022 for the offences of dumping five large loads of waste in the Buckinghamshire area.
The court heard that on five separate occasions, between April 2021 and August 2021, waste was found to have been dumped in various locations throughout Buckinghamshire. Locations included private gateways, private fields and on council land.
Morris collected waste, including electrical items, furniture and kitchen units, doors, beds, fridges and building waste from various residential premises and dumped it – without permission - wherever he could. On one occasion he broke into a private gateway and dumped the waste in a farmer’s field. He would often opportunistically approach the occupiers of properties where he saw building works were already taking place to offer his waste disposal services. Victims of the offences also provided statements and photographs.
His actions caused considerable inconvenience, nuisance and expense to the land-owners who have had to spend considerable amounts of money to clear the waste lawfully.
Morris was linked to the offences in several ways. In four of the instances, he gave his personal name and mobile number to the resident and used WhatsApp, allowing the witnesses to provide photos of Mr Morris to the council’s Enforcement Team. Mr Morris, who also drove a distinctive Ford Transit style caged silver tipper van, turned up to his interview under caution with the council, in the offending vehicle.
Buckinghamshire Council’s Enforcement Team carries out regular surveillance at one of the locations Morris was targeting due to it being heavily blighted with fly-tipping. On one of the occasions Morris’ vehicle was captured at the location where roughly 15-20 fridges were dumped in a private gateway. The surveillance camera showed Morris’ vehicle to be the only vehicle stopping in the gateway the night the dumping took place.
Morris pleaded guilty to all five charges. Magistrates fined him £250 and ordered him to pay clean up costs of £1,500. A victim surcharge was also levied, making a total to pay of £1,784.
Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment said: “This case highlights the dangers of paying an unlicensed waste carrier. You don’t know how they are going to dispose of your waste and the chances are, they will do so unlawfully. Not only could your actions lead to you being prosecuted as well, by using rogue traders like this you could indirectly be allowing fly-tipping to happen in your community. The safest thing is always to use a reputable collector, check their details and never, ever pay them in cash. Our S.C.R.A.P. code gives you the tools you need to ensure that your waste is disposed of correctly.”
