A pub manager in Gateshead has been hit with a bill of more than £900 after failing to show how he disposed of his premises' waste.
Investigators asked Benny Maddison, who managed Bensham Jockey pub on Bensham Road, on several occasions to explain how he dealt with the pub's commercial waste.
Concerns had been raised over where he was getting rid of it, and a large collection of black rubbish bags were spotted in the pub's car park.
Gateshead Council enforcement officers suspected waste was not being disposed of either legally or responsibly.
All companies are required by law to make arrangements for the disposal of the waste generated by their business and to keep documentation showing how it was disposed of. By law, all waste transfer notes must be kept for two years and must be produced on request.
Maddison, of Raeburn Gardens, Carr Hill, was asked to produce his waste transfer notes but failed to do so.
He was summonsed to appear before Gateshead Magistrates' Court on Monday to answer charges under the Environmental Protection Act, but he failed to attend. The case was heard in his absence.
Maddison, trading as BM Leisure Ltd, was found guilty of failing to supply waste transfer notes and was fined £660 with costs of £178. He was also required to pay a £66 victim surcharge.
Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for development, transport and public protection, said: "The law is absolutely clear - if you run a business, then you have to be able to show that you are disposing of your commercial waste legally.
"It's a serious matter. We know, for example, there are businesses who try to dump their commercial waste at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres. In fact, the problem has become so bad that we are having to introduce a strict permit system to try to stop them.
"Our household waste and recycling centres are purely for members of the public to use, not commercial businesses. By law commercial waste must be handled separately.
"Any company who cannot produce any waste transfer notes also raises the suspicion that they might be arranging for their waste to be fly tipped.
"The seriousness of Mr Maddison's offences is reflected in the stiff fine which was issued by the magistrates. We trust he will take his responsibilities more seriously in the future."
