A man has been fined over £1,800 for fly-tipping in Fleet after advertising a rubbish removal service on Facebook Marketplace.
He collected waste from a customer but dumped it illegally on Bramshot Lane instead of disposing of it properly.
Despite repeated attempts by Hart District Council to contact him, including a formal notice to attend an interview, he failed to respond, which is a criminal offence.
After missing an earlier court date, he was arrested and brought before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday 19 September where he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping. The court ordered him to pay:
- £695 for clean-up costs
- £1,000 towards the Council’s legal fees
- £114 victim surcharge
He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid community service.
Councillor Tina Collins, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: “These cases highlight the risks of using unlicensed waste carriers who often take residents’ money and then dump waste illegally, damaging our environment and communities.
“Hart District Council will continue to take firm action against such offenders to protect our district from environmental crime.”
Hart District Council remains committed to tackling fly-tipping and other forms of environmental crime, protecting both public and private landowners across the district. Fly-tipping offenders face an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence.
Residents also have a crucial role to play. By checking whether waste carriers are properly registered before handing over rubbish, the public can help stop criminal dumping before it starts. You can easily verify if someone is a registered waste carrier by checking their name or licence number details at www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/flytipping.
Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping is urged to report it immediately by calling 01252 622122 or using the Council’s online portal: hart.fixmystreet.com. Please include details of the location, vehicle registration, and a description of the incident.