A MAN has been hit in the pocket to the tune of more than £400 after his waste was found dumped at a rural lane in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Ashley Meanock, of the Worsley area of Salford, was given a fixed penalty notice by Tameside Council relating to rubbish dumped at land off Twirl Hill Lane on April 15, 2024.
However, he did not pay the fine, nor did he reply to any further correspondence from the authority – he also did not attend court when summoned in January 2025.
Following this, a warrant was issued for his arrest – the warrant was executed during a police traffic stop in May 2025.
Eventually, he appeared at Tameside Magistrates Court on Friday, August 29 and entered a guilty plea to failing in his duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
Mr Meanock claimed that he was not responsible for the fly tipping but admitting passing the waste to an unlicensed carrier, who later carried out the fly tip.
That meant he did not comply with his legal duty to ensure waste is only transferred to authorised persons or registered waste carriers.
Mr Meanock told the court he had not received any of the paperwork regarding the fixed penalty notice as he was moving house.
However, he was ordered to pay £415 compensation towards the removal of the waste, to be paid in 28 days.
Tameside Council’s executive member for environmental services and neighbourhoods, Cllr Laura Boyle, said: “This case serves as yet another reminder that all residents are legally required to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly and we urge people to always make sure they use a licensed waste carrier to dispose of their waste.
“Fly tipping is a blight on our communities – spoiling our local neighbourhoods and countryside – and we will always take enforcement action where we find evidence of those responsible.
“In 2023/24 we gave out 236 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping – more than anywhere else in the north west, but we know there is much more work to do and we need our communities to work with us to help tackle this.”
Residents can check the register of authorised waste carriers here – https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers