A man has been prosecuted by the council for illegally carrying scrap metal.
Jamie Lee Smith, aged 24, of Amphion Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court.
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The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on October 4 last year council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle in the Pendine / Llanmiloe area on the A4066. Their attention was drawn to a Ford Transit tipper, which was carrying a quantity of scrap metal. When the vehicle came to a stop, the officers approached the driver and asked if he had waste transfer notes to show where the scrap metal had come from. He produced a note but it did not contain all the relevant information that is legally required. Further enquiries revealed that Smith had previously been prosecuted by the council for not having waste transfer notes.
He was fined £70 by magistrates and ordered to pay £96 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Waste transfer notes not only help to prevent fly-tipping but also show where the metal has come from. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said although he hoped the case would raise awareness of the issue he was disappointed with the level of the fine imposed.
“All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have the correct paperwork for the waste they are carrying and use only licensed waste sites for disposal,” he said.
“It is important, not only to prevent fly-tipping, but also to prevent the increasing number of metal thefts throughout the country and the council works with the police to tackle this issue.
“I have to say I am disappointed by the fine given by magistrates as it is less than a fixed penalty notice. This was also the second time this person had been caught by officers so I feel it should have been more.”
