Prosecutions show tough stance on waste offences
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has continued its tough stance on waste and recycling offences, as a number of residents have been prosecuted.
In recent times the Council has clamped down on litter louts and fly-tippers to make the County Borough a cleaner and greener place. That included introducing ‘Who Done It?’ – where images taken by Enforcement Officers, of people the Council want to speak to in connection with suspected offences, are posted on the Council’s website.
Meanwhile, figures published in May 2017 show the Council is ever-improving its recycling record, having recycled 64% of its waste in 2016 – which is above the Welsh average (63%) and the Welsh Government’s 2016-17 target (58%).
While more and more Rhondda Cynon Taf residents are rising to the Council’s challenge, some residents continue to commit waste-related offences.
On May 24, 2017, at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court, the Local Authority successfully prosecuted nine individuals for various offences. They were:
- Alice Hull of Vicarage Court, Church Village – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). She pleaded guilty by post, and was fined £80, ordered to pay £130 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
- Emma Jane Smith of Harris Street, Hirwaun – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). She pleaded guilty by post, and was fined £80, ordered to pay £130 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
- William Stevens of Rickards Street, Treforest – for failure to control waste (black bag on the highway). He pleaded guilty, and was fined £80, ordered to pay £100 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
- Carla Smith of Dan y Cribyn, Ynysybwl – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). She pleaded guilty by post, and was fined £80, ordered to pay £150 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
- Christopher Jeffery Griffiths of Hamilton Street, Mountain Ash – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). He was found guilty in his absence from Court, and was fined £440, ordered to pay £150 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
- Fiona Jane Wheeler of Stuart Street, Pontyclun – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). She was found guilty in her absence from Court, and was fined £440, ordered to pay £150 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
- David Bennett of Plymouth Road, Pontypridd – for failure to control waste (contaminated recycling bags). He was found guilty in his absence from Court, and was fined £440, ordered to pay £150 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
- Iain Derbyshire of King Street, Treforest – for failure to control waste (black bag on the highway). He was found guilty in his absence from Court, and was fined £440, ordered to pay £120 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
- Paul Anderson of John Street, Abercwmboi – for littering. He was found guilty in his absence from Court, and was fined £440, ordered to pay £278.73 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
They follow the successful prosecution of Patrick Neil Durkin of Heol Nant, Cwmdare, who was prosecuted by the Council for knowingly and intentionally illegally disposing of waste – including raw meat – at an area known as ‘the tramroad,’ between Penywaun and Trecynon. He was caught by a covert camera (pictured) on October 2, 2016, installed in an area where fly-tipping is an issue.
He pleaded guilty to Fly Tipping under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, at a Merthyr Magistrates’ Court hearing on March 1, 2017. He was fined £120, and ordered to pay £400 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Nigel Wheeler, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Director for Highways and Streetcare Services, said: “The Council has again shown that waste and recycling offences will not be tolerated. These latest prosecutions should serve as a warning to residents who feel that fly-tipping is acceptable, and to those who don’t contribute to the recycling effort within the County Borough.
“It was recently confirmed that 64% of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s waste in 2016 was recycled – an all-time high as we work towards the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2024-25. However, if everyone does just a little more it would make a big difference, which is why these offences are taken so seriously.”
For more information about recycling – including what should go in your bins and details about the County Borough’s seven Community Recycling Centres, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling.
