A Trowbridge resident has been fined £600 after waste from their home was fly-tipped on farmland near Cherhill.
The resident had paid £120 to a man who knocked on their door offering to remove rubbish from the side of their property. Instead of disposing of it legally, the waste was dumped on private farmland.
Wiltshire Council’s environmental enforcement officers traced the fly-tip back to the address and issued a £600 fixed penalty notice. The resident, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has since paid the fine in full.
The incident was reported on 30th January and investigated the same day.
During an interview with officers, the resident was unable to provide any details that could help identify the man who collected the waste. They also admitted they had not checked whether he was a licensed waste carrier, taken vehicle details, or obtained a Waste Transfer Note - a legal requirement when handing over household waste.
Cllr Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said the case highlighted the importance of residents fulfilling their legal “duty of care”.
“Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime,” he said. “It damages our environment, impacts landowners and places unnecessary costs on the public purse through investigation and clean-up.
“In this instance, as the fly-tip was located on privately owned farmland, the legal responsibility for arranging and paying for its removal falls to the landowner.
“While the council cannot use public funds to clear waste from private land, we remain committed to supporting landowners wherever possible through thorough investigation and enforcement.”
Wiltshire Council is urging residents to check the Environment Agency’s register of licensed waste carriers before paying anyone to remove rubbish, and to always obtain a Waste Transfer Note.
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