Throwaway actions land four more people with fines

Ms Walker’s waste (left) was dumped at several locations and Mr Minshull’s dumped waste was found at Woodhouse Lane, Rochdale

Four more people have been hit with fines for littering and fly-tipping offences following enforcement action brought by Rochdale Borough Council.

All four were charged with offences contrary to the Environmental Protection Act (1990), at Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 17 June.

Dale Buckley, 37, of Rochdale, and Mohammed Shakeel, 47, of Bury, were both convicted of littering offences. Mr Buckley was witnessed throwing a gas canister into the River Roch by a town centre enforcement warden in January 2020.

Mr Shakeel was also witnessed throwing a plastic bag containing a vodka bottle into undergrowth in Don Street, Middleton, in September 2020. Both had been offered fixed penalty notices but failed to pay them.

Mr Buckley was ordered to pay a fine and costs, totalling £542, Mr Shakeel was ordered to pay a total of £539.

Daniel Minshull, 32, of Heywood, and Tracey Walker, 52, of Rochdale, both pleaded guilty to breaching their duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act (1990). They had each employed people they could not identify to remove waste for them, which resulted in fly-tipping.

Mr Minshull’s dumped waste was found at Woodhouse Lane, Rochdale, and Ms Walker’s at several locations around her own address. Mr Minshull was ordered to pay a fine and costs, totalling £252; Ms Walker was ordered to pay a total of £262.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for environment and facilities, said: “We are taking action to remind people that discarding waste, no matter how small will not be tolerated. We go to great lengths to keep our borough clean and tidy and will crackdown on anyone found to completely disrespect where they live – there is a consequence for littering and fly-tipping and we will continue to take a stance against these crimes.

“We also remind residents to always take care when hiring people to remove waste, that they are licensed by the Environment Agency. Unlicensed carriers will happily take your money, then dump your waste wherever they see fit – landing you with a fine. This needs to stop, please do your checks.”

If you have any information about fly-tipping; littering or those responsible, please report it at rochdale.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling 0300 303 8884.

Details on how to check for waste carrier licenses can also be found on the fly-tipping page of the council web site.