Waste van man fined

David Kirtley of Howardian Close, Washington was charged with knowingly causing waste to be deposited from his motor vehicle on two separate occasions.

He was ordered to pay a total of £2,684.15 at a sentencing hearing at the Moot Hall in Newcastle yesterday (Tuesday 10 May).

Mr Kirtley is authorised by the Environment Agency as an upper-tier waste carrier and at the time of the offences was a director of Your Waste Away NE LTD and Washington Removal and Recovery LTD.

On 8 June and 24 August 2021, Sunderland City Council's Environmental Enforcement Team received reports of two serious incidences of fly-tipping on Foxcover Road, Sunderland.

On both occasions the road was completely blocked with rubble overnight, creating a highly dangerous situation for oncoming motorists, one of which narrowly avoided the dumped waste.

In September 2021, the City Council seized a van belonging to Mr Kirtley using powers allowing it to confiscate vehicles suspected of being involved in environmental crime or fly-tipping.

The van was connected to both offences and was registered to Mr Kirtley's company, "Your Waste Away NE LTD". When interviewed, Mr Kirtley admitted the vehicle was his, but claimed that a third party was using the vehicle on both occasions.

Mr Kirtley pleaded guilty to knowingly causing waste to be deposited from his motor vehicle on both occasions, where the court fined him £1000, with additional costs awarded to Sunderland City Council totalling £1684.15.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Claire Rowntree said: "Fly-tipping is not only illegal but anti-social and it will not be tolerated in our City. The actions of this individual were not only reckless but could have resulted serious or fatal injuries being caused to motorists who were travelling along this unlit stretch of road."  

"When we come across evidence that a vehicle may have been used for fly-tipping, we use our legal powers to seize it and take actions against those responsible. Since April 2020 we have seized six vehicles believed to have been used in fly-tipping.

"Residents tell us that they want to see more enforcement action against this type of behaviour, and we would urge residents to continue to work with us.    If anyone witnesses fly-tipping they can report it anonymously at https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/report-flytipping or by calling 0191 520 5550.

Residents are also encouraged to check if the waste collector they're planning to use has a license on the Environment Agency's website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information or by calling them on 08708 506 506.

Alternatively residents can arrange for up to six items to be taken away for £10 by booking a bulky collection through the City Council at www.sunderland.gov.uk