A Northumberland man who fly tipped illegally on two occasions has been brought to justice following an investigation by the public protection environmental enforcement team at Northumberland County Council. 
 

On Friday 19 November, Daniel Brown 25 of Cheviot View, Seghill appeared before Newcastle Magistrates who ordered him to pay a total of £1,751.14 after he pleaded guilty to two offences of fly-tipping on Mill Lane, Seghill. 
 

On Saturday August 7, 2021, Northumberland County Council received a report of a fly tipping incident on Mill Lane of a large quantity of mixed household waste. 
 

The following week, on Wednesday August 11, 2021, a further report of a fly tipping incident was received by the council at the same location. This time it was a quantity of soil. 
 

Brown was identified by his vehicle which was spotted in the area. He subsequently attended the council offices for interview where he admitted to the offences. He said he was moving the rubbish for a friend. 
 

The vehicle was seized by Northumberland County Council officers who sought the forfeiture of the vehicle used in the commission of the offences.  However, the Magistrates after consideration felt that Brown did not have sufficient ‘rights’ to the vehicle which belonged to his grandmother and that forfeiture would not impact on him – but would adversely impact on her. 
 

Magistrates fined Brown £480 for each offence, ordered him to pay £743.14 in costs and a victim surcharge of £48 making a total financial penalty of £1,751.14, 
 

Phil Soderquest, head of housing and public protection at Northumberland County Council said:  
 
“There are so many ways to get rid of waste responsibly and the vast majority of our residents do so. There are free facilities available to householders at all of Northumberland’s household recycling centres and we operate a household garden waste collection service and a bulky waste collection service for a small fee.  
 
“No matter what the waste, or the reasons behind it, fly tipping will never be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly by the council.” 
 
Residents are being advised to always ensure they use a registered waste carrier, who will dispose of their waste lawfully at an authorised site. The onus is on the owner of the waste to make sure it is disposed of lawfully otherwise they too run the risk of prosecution. 
 
Householders are advised to be particularly wary of businesses that only operate through social media and do not seem to have a landline phone number or business address. They should also be wary of anyone coming to their door offering to take away rubbish for less than expected. 
 
Before handing over their waste to anyone, residents must also ask to see a current waste carriers license issued by the Environment Agency and obtain a waste transfer note or invoice from the business which should include the vehicle registration number used for removal and where the waste is going. If they cannot give you these items, then do not give them your waste.