Two more companies have been fined for fly-tipping commercial waste after successful prosecutions by the Council's Environmental Crimes Team.
On both occasions Biffa officers, working for the council, found a large amount of fly-tipped waste which were traced back to the companies. Both failed to attend hearings at the Magistrates Court in July and were found guilty in their absence of failing to manage their commercial waste under s34 (1)(b)of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The Withington company was fined £9,000 and costs of £200 and a £190 victim surcharge, a total of £9,390, after their commercial waste was found dumped on Fenton Street, Gorton & Abbey Hey.
Wise Pharmacies Limited of Aspinall Street, Moss Side, did not send a representative to court but submitted a guilty plea in advance of the hearing and were made to pay a fine of £2,666 and costs of £300 and a £190 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to a commercial waste offence ,a total of £3,156 .
GTHMH ltd, registered at Kingswood Road, Withington were given the opportunity by the Environmental Crimes team on two separate occasions to answer questions under caution regarding the fly-tipped waste which consisted of cardboard boxes, wood and other miscellaneous items found in the Gorton and Abbey Hey area on 12 August 2020. However, they never responded, and the company were warned on a final occasion that the case would be referred for prosecution.
In a similar case, a large number of bin bags and other miscellaneous waste relating to Wise Pharmacies on Cheetham Hill Road was found blocking an alley gate on Esmond Road Cheetham. The company based on Aspinall Street Moss Side were invited to attend an interview under caution twice to discuss the incident however, the company failed to send a representative despite sending an email to the investigating officer claiming third parties were responsible for removing rubbish from the company's commercial bins. No response was received even when it was explained via email that all businesses have a duty of care to take reasonable measures to ensure their waste is kept under control and offering the company a final opportunity to attend an interview under caution.
Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, said: “Companies might think that this a victimless crime, but it is not. Our Manchester communities deserve better and companies that think they can get away with blighting our neighbourhoods, better think again. Our Environmental Crimes team will leave no stone unturned in trying to track down illegal fly-tippers, there are no excuses for this kind of behaviour. It's important that our zero tolerance on fly-tipping is understood."
If you have any evidence at all relating to a fly-tipping offence in your neighbourhood, contact us in confidence, at www.manchester.gov.uk/flytipping