A BRISTOL man has been ordered to pay over £1,500 following a prosecution for fly-tipping in Long Ashton.

On Friday, December 15, Victor Rotundu of Cobham Road, Bristol, entered a guilty plea at North Somerset Magistrates Court for fly-tipping waste on Yanley Lane in Long Ashton in June 2023.

The incident was witnessed by a local resident, who reported the offence using the registration number of the hired vehicle which Rotundu had used. The waste consisted of 11 domestic fridge freezer appliances.

Rotundu had to pay a total of £1,518, consisting of a fine of £200, as well as North Somerset Council's costs of £1,318.

Councillor Annemieke Waite, North Somerset Council's executive member responsible for climate and waste, said: “Fly-tipping is completely unacceptable. It has a negative impact on our local environment and communities.

“North Somerset Council will vigorously investigate all fly-tipping incidents and issue fixed penalty notices or prosecute individuals when sufficient evidence is found.

“I’d like to remind residents using private companies to collect their waste of the importance in checking that they’re registered with the environment agency.

"Waste carriers should always provide paperwork showing their full contact details and a description of the waste taken. It’s also useful if residents make a note of the vehicle the waste carrier used, including the registration number. This information allows officers to trace the keeper of the vehicle if the waste ends up being fly-tipped.”

Residents are encouraged to dispose of their household waste at the council's recycling centres in Weston-super-Mare, Backwell or Portishead.

The council has issued the following advice to ensure that your waste is disposed of legally:

S - Suspect all waste carriers. If you don't believe they are legitimate, don't let them take your waste. 

C - Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency's website.

R - Refuse out-of-the-blue offers to have your rubbish taken away. 

A - Ask what will happen to your rubbish. You should seek proof it has been disposed of properly.

P - obtain the proper paperwork, which could be include an invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.