PEOPLE fined for failing to ensure their rubbish has been properly disposed of will no longer receive a discount for early payment, as part of a toughening up of Wychavon’s approach to environmental crime.
Residents have a legal responsibility to make sure they carry out proper checks if they give their waste to someone else to dispose of. This includes making sure the person or company they use is a registered waste carrier and they have obtained receipts and other official paperwork.
Anyone who doesn’t can be fined if their waste is later found illegally dumped under the Household Waste Duty of Care.
Currently the fine is £300 but this can be reduced to £180 if paid within 10 days. From April this discount will no longer apply meaning people must pay the full amount.
The fine for failing to produce a waste carrier licence when asked to is also being set at £300 with the early payment reduction removed.
Discounts for graffiti and fly-posting, which attract £150 fines, are also being removed along with the early payment of fines for abandoning a vehicle.
This follows Wychavon’s decision to increase the littering fine to £150 and last year remove the early payment reductions for both littering and fly-tipping.
Wychavon has also recently invested in two new Community and Environmental Protection Officers to help strengthen efforts to catch and deter offenders, as well as educate the public on their responsibilities to support people to do the right thing.
Coun Tony Rowley, Executive Board Member for Climate change, Environmental Policy and Regulatory Services on Wychavon District Council, said: “The removal of the early payment discount sends a clear signal of how seriously we take crimes against our environment.
“There is no excuse for fly-tipping, littering, failing to pick up after your dog or any other environmental crime. It is anti-social and damages our beautiful district.
“We will continue to engage and educate people to encourage them to do the right thing but those who choose not to do so can now expect to pay significant penalties.”
The full list of offences where the early payment discount is being removed is as follows:
Abandoning a vehicle: £200 fine (early payment discount to £120 removed)
Graffiti and fly-posting: £150 fine (early payment discount to £100 removed)
Failure to produce waste documents and other Duty of Care offences £300 (early payment discount to £180 removed)
Failure to furnish authority to carry waste £300 (early payment discount to £180 removed)
Public Space Protection Order offences £100 (early payment discount to £60 removed)
Breach of Community Protection Notices £100 fine (early payment discount to £60 for individuals and £75 to organisations removed)
ENDS
Ian Dipple
Head of Marketing and Communications
Wychavon District Council
Tel:01386 565526
Mob: 07583 091864
Wychavon District Council
good services, good value
Visit our website www.wychavon.gov.uk
