A Calne waste carrier has been fined £1,410 after rubbish he collected from a homeowner was found dumped in a roadside ditch near Kellaways.
Martin Atcherley, of Stokes Croft, Calne, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on 1st September after Wiltshire Council investigated the fly-tipping.
The case began when the council received a report about waste dumped near Kellaways on 2nd January.
Environmental enforcement officers found a quantity of waste in a roadside ditch, including used paint cans, plastic bottles and cardboard packaging.
Among the rubbish were items which enabled officers to trace it back to a residential property in Calne.
The homeowner had been clearing out a garage and garden shed and paid Mr Atcherley £140 to take the waste away. They had also checked beforehand that he was a registered waste carrier.
When interviewed under caution, Mr Atcherley admitted collecting the waste and confirmed that the material found near Kellaways was the same waste he had taken from the property.
He told officers that a family member had subsequently borrowed his vehicle while the waste was still inside and had been told to dispose of it in a skip.
However, he was unable to provide details of the person involved or evidence that the waste had subsequently been disposed of legally.
Mr Atcherley pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care in relation to the waste.
He was ordered to pay £1,410 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.
The homeowner helped the council with its investigation and received a £100 reward through Wiltshire Council's We're Targeting Fly-tippers (WTF) campaign.
Cllr Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council, said the case demonstrated that waste carriers had legal responsibilities for waste they collected.
She also urged homeowners to keep records when arranging for waste to be removed, including obtaining a receipt, recording the vehicle registration and checking the carrier's licence details.
“Just because someone is licensed, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will dispose of the waste lawfully,” she said.
The council said the information can help officers trace waste back to the person responsible if it is later fly-tipped.
Want to know what’s on in Calne? Visit our local events page for listings and to find out how to add your own events for free. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok to keep up with all the latest news. Have you got a story for us? Email
