A roofing and building company who failed to carry out proper checks on a 'man with a van' who offered to dispose of trade waste for them has paid a high price for its error after being prosecuted in court.
Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd pleaded guilty to the offence of failing in its duty of care when transferring waste to a waste remover when appearing at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
The court heard that on Tuesday 18 July 2023, mixed building waste, including black sacks and wooden material, was found dumped at Holtspur Lane, Wooburn Green in Buckinghamshire. An officer from Buckinghamshire Council's waste enforcement team investigated and found evidence amongst the dumped waste, giving an address in The Green, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe.
The details were later traced back to a company called Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd, who explained they were approached by a man with a van who offered to remove waste from a property. The man took the waste which was later found dumped just down the road from where it had been collected. Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd workers admitted they saw the waste dumped the next day but explained they didn't pick it back up as it was 'no longer their problem'.
Magistrates at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court fined Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd £6,000 and ordered the company to pay a contribution of £1,289.71 towards the council's clean up and investigation costs – making a total to pay of £7289.71.
Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment said:
"Once again, this case highlights the folly in failing to properly check the credentials of a waste remover. It may seem like the easy option to quickly pay cash to someone to take waste away for you. But if that waste is later found dumped illegally, as was the case here, we will follow all available avenues to seek a prosecution. If we are unable to find the culprit who dumped the waste, but we are able to trace the owner of the waste, they can be held accountable and charged with failing in their duty of care. The safest option is to only ever use a registered waste carrier. You can do this easily online. And never, ever pay cash."
To report fly-tipping anywhere in Buckinghamshire visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/fix-my-street
If you have evidence showing an offence taking place and you are willing to provide a witness statement, please contact the council's Enforcement Team at: SCRAPflytipping@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
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