Man fined after rubbish fly-tipped in cemetery

Published: Thu 11th April, 2024

A man has been left with a court bill of £750 after his rubbish was dumped in Loughborough Cemetery on Leicester Road.

Charnwood Borough Council prosecuted Mr John Bromley, 28, of Woodthorpe Avenue, Loughborough after the fly-tip was reported to the Council.

At Leicester Magistrates’ Court on March 20, Bromley pleaded guilty to a duty of care offence, which means he failed to ensure that the waste would be disposed of by someone with a waste carrier licence issued by the Environment Agency.

The court was told that the Council received a report of a fly-tip in Loughborough Cemetery on Leicester Road in Loughborough on October 11, 2022. A Council officer visited the site and found several bags of domestic rubbish which had been split open.

The officer found paperwork amongst the waste linking it to Mr Bromley.

Bromley was invited to attend two interviews with council officers but failed to attend either.

A fixed penalty notice was issued to Mr Bromley on November 9, 2022, which went unpaid and the matter was progressed to court.

Mr Bromley told the court he had given his waste to a third party and apologised for his actions, any inconvenience caused and further confirmed he would not fly-tip again. 

Bromley was fined £400 and ordered to pay £190 in costs and a £160 victim surcharge.

Following the hearing, Gareth Harvey, head of regulatory and community safety at the Council, said: “We will not tolerate fly-tipping in Charnwood. Not only does it create an eyesore, but it can also be harmful to the environment.

“This case was particularly unpleasant as the rubbish was dumped in one of our cemeteries.

“If we find evidence to issue a fixed penalty notice or take someone to court, then that is what we will do. People need to take responsibility for their own waste and ensure it is disposed of correctly.

“If you are handing your waste over to a third party, always ensure they have a valid waste carrier licence.”

The consequences for fly-tipping can range from a £400 fixed penalty notice to an unlimited fine, a criminal record or time in prison.

People have a legal responsibility to check the person taking their waste away is a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

They can check traders and businesses hold the correct waste licence by visiting the Environment Agency website. They can also ask the carrier for their certificate before handing the waste over.

If you spot any fly-tipped waste, please report it using our online reporting form www.charnwood.gov.uk/fly_tipping.