Forgotten waste brings repercussions to Heywood resident

Dumped waste found with correspondence addressed to Ms Bezzina

A Heywood resident who paid someone to remove waste from her home has been fined after the rubbish was found dumped in Rochdale.

Claire Bezzina, of Heywood, formerly of Rochdale, appeared at Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on 8 February, pleading guilty to one offence contrary to Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act (1990).

In October 2018 the council’s enforcement team found bags of waste fly-tipped on a grass verge on Westminster Street where letters sent to Ms Bezzina's former address were found.

Despite several attempts requesting Ms Bezzina attend an interview in connection with the fly-tipped waste, she failed to accept any of the invitations.

The failure to cooperate meant she was summoned to court where she was fined £75 and ordered to pay £375.13 for failing to ensure that the transfer of her waste was to an authorised licensed waste carrier.

She was also sentenced to a 28-day curfew between 8pm–6am for not attending court originally on 13 September 2021 for the offence while on bail.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for environment and facilities, said: "We cannot stress how important it is to do your checks when booking someone to remove your waste. This is another example of unlicensed waste carriers taking your business and simply dumping waste wherever they see fit.

"Please be careful and always make sure that any person or business who offers to take waste to the recycling centre are licensed by the Environment Agency. This needs to stop, please be vigilant.”

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 a waste carrier's licence can also be found on the same page.