Five-figure fines for waste offenders in South East

The owner of Feltham-based skip hire company Swift Skips has been fined 45,000 after pleading guilty to six charges of keeping and treating waste without the required licence.

” This fine sends a clear message to anyone who thinks dumping waste is an acceptable alternative to acting responsibly by legally getting rid of their rubbish. “
– Cllr Roy Davies, Luton BC
And, Oceana Television & Media Ltd in Luton incurred a 21,000 fine after pleading guilty to three counts of unlawful rubbish disposal and one count of failing to provide waste transfer notes.

Both companies committed offences having received official warnings from their respective local authorities.

Swift Skips
Brentford Magistrates Court was told that Swift Skips owner Don Taheny, of Denham, Uxbridge, accepted waste such as construction material, wood, metal and plastic without a waste management licence.

Counter to the Enviornment Agency's guidance, large amounts of waste were being kept and treated on Mr. Taheny's site. Agency officers found a concrete crusher, trommel and 360-degree excavators working on the site.

Investigating officer Stacey Hargreaves said: “Despite repeated visits and several warnings Mr Taheny failed to run his business within the law.”

Oceana
Oceana's fine was the biggest so far seen by Luton borough council's street services department. The company was fined for dumping its commercial waste despite warnings from council officers.

The council had received complaints from occupants in the company's building to say that Oceania was abusing the legitimate and paid-for waste collection facilities of other companies.

Luton's head of waste management, Mick Wright said his council members had increased “considerably” the resources available for cleansing and enforcement in the borough, “and are determined to have clean streets.”

Cllr Roy Davies, portfolio holder for recycling and waste management at Luton added: “Firm sentencing from the court reinforces the council's clean streets campaign to make a visible difference in Luton. This fine sends a clear message to anyone who thinks dumping waste is an acceptable alternative to acting responsibly by legally getting rid of their rubbish.”