A Tredegar man has been convicted of multiple environmental offences following a successful test鈥憄urchase investigation carried out by 麻w豆传媒 Gwent Council.
Tyler Coles, of Laburnham Avenue, was convicted of five offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including illegally depositing controlled waste (fly鈥憈ipping), burning controlled waste, and allowing the escape of controlled waste from a vehicle under his control.
The prosecution followed a planned test鈥憄urchase operation designed to identify and disrupt illegal waste鈥慶arrying activity. As part of the operation, the council procured the services of Mr Coles, who was acting as a waste carrier, to collect refuse bags containing controlled waste in exchange for payment.
Unbeknown to Mr Coles, the waste contained a tracking device, enabling officers to monitor whether it was taken to a licensed waste disposal facility, as required by law. The tracker data showed that instead of disposing of the waste responsibly, Mr Coles transported it to a remote location in Ebbw Vale, where it was set alight within approximately one hour of collection.
Officers were able to use this real鈥憈ime evidence to locate the disposal site, confirm the unlawful burning of the waste, and gather clear evidence of multiple breaches of environmental legislation.
Mr Coles pleaded guilty to five charges and the court imposed a 12鈥憁onth community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to pay 拢1,500 in costs and a victim surcharge of 拢114.
The local authority can and does use test鈥憄urchase and mobile surveillance operations as part of its wider enforcement work to tackle illegal waste disposal and protect communities from the environmental harm, safety risks and financial costs associated with fly鈥憈ipping.
A spokesperson for 麻w豆传媒 Gwent Council said:
鈥淭his case sends a clear message that we will proactively investigate and take enforcement action against anyone involved in illegal waste activity. Fly鈥憈ipping and illegal waste disposal cause significant harm to our communities, and we will not hesitate to use all lawful powers available to tackle it.鈥�
If you have any information about fly-tipping please contact us on 01495 311556 or email info@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk