Free takeaway was a costly mistake

A free meal proved a £1,280 mistake for the owner of a takeaway business.

Mohamed Abdul Rokib (26/8/1980) of Ramsey Street, Rochdale pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday 18 September 2013 for not disposing of his waste correctly from his Jute Takeaway business on Chorley Old Road in Bolton. He was left with a bill £1,280 which included a fine of £140.

The court heard that Rokib was struggling to get rid of his rubbish, so he paid a customer he didn’t know £35 to get rid of it – and gave him a free takeaway meal.

The ten bags of waste from the takeaway business were later reported by a member of the public near the Bridgewater Canal in Boothstown.

Environmental crime officers from Salford City Council visited the canal side and found it littered with raw and cooked meat, metal containers and used cooking oil and launched an investigation.

The waste was traced back to the Jute Takeaway in Bolton.

Speaking after the case Councillor Gena Merrett, Assistant Mayor for Housing an Environment, said: “The Bridgewater Canal is a lovely area and we don’t want it filled with rubbish. The clear message here is that if you are going to pay someone to get rid of your waste, make sure they are registered as a Waste Carrier with the Environment Agency. If you don’t you could end up paying a hefty fine.”