A woman has been fined after an ugly pile of her rubbish was left dumped on a residential street by a fly-tipper. Council bosses said Shanaz Hutchinson, 25, hired an unlicensed waste carrier and failed to carry out any background checks before employing them.
Rubbish she had paid to have removed from her home was found discarded less than four miles away. Rochdale council said Hutchinson, of Curzon Close, Kirkholt, Rochdale, appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates' court on May 6, where she pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act (1990).
On February 1 last year, the council's enforcement team discovered a large pile of fly-tipped waste on Greenbank Road, Syke - which included a single bed base, children's furniture and, crucially, correspondence addressed to her.
The council said Hutchinson declined the opportunity to attend an interview in connection with the dumped rubbish but admitted by telephone to employing someone who she paid cash to remove the waste for her.
In a statement after the case, the council said: "She had not undertaken any background checks to seek if the hired waste carrier was licensed by the Environment Agency or obtained any form of receipt.
"The court deemed her guilty due to her lack of duty of care and insufficient checks and ordered her to pay a fine of £92 plus costs contribution of £190 and a £34 victim surcharge."
Councillor Liam O'Rourke, the council's cabinet member for climate change and environment, said the case should serve as a warning. He said: "Do your checks. We regularly remind people to always check for a waste carrier's licence before hiring anyone. Otherwise, as is the case here, it can bring unwanted repercussions, even if you believe you are doing the right thing. If evidence is found linking you to fly-tipped waste, you will be fined.
"Every householder has a duty of care to dispose of waste responsibly. The household waste recycling centres are open daily and the council now offers two free bulky waste collections per household per year. Additional items are charged at just £2.50 each - so there are simply no excuses for fly-tipping."
Residents can report fly-tipping, littering or those responsible at rochdale.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling 0300 303 8884. Details on how to check for a waste carrier’s licence can also be found on the same page.
Bulky waste collections can be booked at rochdale.gov.uk/bulkywaste
