DUMPING bags of rubbish in the street has led to two women from Ashton-under-Lyne appearing in court and being slapped with fines.
A Tameside Council enforcement officer found a black bin bag of waste when investigating fly-tipping on Kings Road in the town on January 4, 2023.
It was traced back to Sarah Audin, who lived on the street, and she received a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
The council say letters with details on how to pay were sent to Ms Audin, as well as reminder letters, but the fine remained unpaid.
When a prosecution was instigated, Ms Audin didn’t attend court on September 21, 2023, so a warrant for her arrest was issued and she was subsequently bailed to attend court on Monday (January 15, 2024).
Appearing before Tameside magistrates, Ms Audin pleaded guilty to a household duty of care offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
She said she put the bin bag on top of her bin and accepted she should have placed it inside.
Magistrates ordered her to pay a fine of £180, including costs.
In the second case, the court heard that a council enforcement officer found several bags of household waste on Ripon Street in Ashton-under-Lyne on August 10, 2022.
It was traced to Lorane Blake, of Egerton Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.
She was issued with a FPN but ignored letters of how to pay and reminders, with the fine remaining unpaid.
Ms Blake also failed to appear in court on April 24, 2023 so, after a warrant for her arrest was issued, she was then bailed to attend Tameside Magistrates’ Court again this week.
She pleaded guilty to a household duty of care offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and accepted she should have put the waste inside her bin, not next to it.
Magistrates said she had been negligent and ordered her to pay £356, including costs.
The council’s Executive Member responsible for Enforcement has reiterated that there is no excuse for dumping waste.
“It is disrespectful to other local residents and the environment and is an issue of great concern to the local community, most of whom act responsibly and take pride in their local neighbourhoods,” said Councillor Vincent Ricci, who represents the Denton North East ward.
“I’m pleased to see yet further successful prosecutions for waste offences and people held accountable for failing to dispose of their waste legally and responsibly.”
Officers are out every day investigating waste, littering and fly-tipping as part of the local authority’s Our Streets campaign, designed to make streets across the borough cleaner and safer.
Anyone who wishes to report fly-tipping can do so on the council website at www.tameside.gov.uk/flytipping.