Gwent Fly-Tippers Ordered to Pay £960 After Court Hearing

Two residents have been ordered to pay a total of £960 after being prosecuted by Caerphilly County Borough Council for fly-tipping in a Gwent town. 🚯

Tayona Watson of Edward Street, Ystrad Mynach and Gavin Barnett of Susannah Place, Merthyr Tydfil both appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates Court on the 20th of February 2025, where they pled guilty to breaching the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Each was ordered to pay a £200 fine, £200 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge, totalling £480 per person and £960 combined.

Watson admitted dumping household waste in the rear lane of Edward Street, Ystrad Mynach on 6th June 2024, while Barnett’s household waste was found on Eglwysilian Common, Senghenydd on 3rd May 2024.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Public Protection Councillor, Philippa Leonard said: “Fly-tipping is an antisocial and inexcusable offence, and these prosecutions show we are determined to act against offenders.

“Fly-tipping’s are not only unsightly, but they are also a potential health hazard, and it costs public agencies like us, farmers and landowners significant sums of money to clear up.

“Much fly-tipping, as in one of these cases, is done on isolated country roads, late at night when there are no eyewitnesses around.

“It can be very difficult to trace offenders, so our enforcement team deserve high praise for the way they have tracked down these culprits.”

Cllr Leonard added: “There is also a warning here for people who are clearing a house or a commercial property – they must ensure the firm or person they hire to do so has a proper waste carrier’s licence and they must obtain a receipt, or you leave yourself open to a potential fly-tipping offence if you don’t do that.”