A Middlesbrough garage owner has been fined £300 for failing to dispose of business waste correctly.
Chris Broadley admitted to failing to provide waste transfer notes when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that Mr Broadley, who owns Marton Road Tyre Centre on Marton Road, failed to provide waste transfer notes when required to do so by September 19 last year.
By law all businesses are required to keep a record of how they dispose of their waste for at least two years and to produce them when requested to an authorised officer.
The 30-year-old was first investigated following a complaint alleging Marton Road Tyre Centre was using residents’ communal bins to dispose of commercial waste and also dumping oil.
On July 16 last year an environmental enforcement officer visited the alleyway to the rear of the premises and inspected each of the communal bins.
In one bin near the Somerset Street alley gate the officer discovered part of what appeared to be an engine and used oil spill kit among domestic waste.
Also contained in the waste were blue disposable gloves and beneath these a partially burned letterhead for Mr Broadley, Marton Road Tyre Centre was found and taken as evidence along with photographs.
On September 12 a legal notice under the Environmental Protection Act was delivered to Mr Broadley, requiring him to provide details of where his business waste had been going for the previous two years within seven days of the date of the notice.
No response was received and therefore on September 22 a fixed penalty notice was issued for failing to produce the documents.
Mr Broadley pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrates. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £340 towards prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Councillor Tracy Harvey, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for environment, said: “The vast majority of businesses in Middlesbrough are operated responsibly, but those who choose to ignore the law can expect to be prosecuted.
“Businesses have a duty to ensure that their waste is disposed of properly so that it does not cause harm or pollute the environment.
“This defendant had a number of opportunities both to comply with the law, and to pay the fixed penalty notice.
“Prosecution is always a last resort after all other avenues have been explored, and we are happy to talk to any business owners who are not clear on their obligations.”
Mr Broadley declined to comment.
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