A businessman known locally as the ‘Recycling Man’ has been fined £1,000 for fly-tipping after he was caught dumping waste improperly. Mr. Andrew Williams from Trecynon admitted to the offence in court on Wednesday, August 7. Despite promoting his business, Recycling Man, for responsible waste disposal, he was found guilty of illegally dumping waste he had been paid to dispose of correctly. The incident occurred at Parish Road in Rhigos, where Mr. Williams decided to fly-tip waste he was hired to remove for £100. During the court hearing, Mr. Williams explained that the job’s scale was larger than expected and took longer to complete.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council confirmed that Mr. Williams is a registered waste carrier and usually disposes of waste at authorised sites but chose to unlawfully dump waste in this instance. The council maintains a zero-tolerance policy on littering and fly-tipping, leading to an investigation that identified Mr. Williams as the perpetrator. Despite denying the accusation initially, Mr. Williams could not provide a valid explanation for the waste’s presence at the fly-tipping site. He was subsequently charged under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for illegal waste disposal and fined £1,115.51, including costs and a victim surcharge.
A council spokesperson emphasised the seriousness of fly-tipping, highlighting the financial burden of waste removal and the impact on essential services. With fly-tipping investigations ongoing across Wales, authorities are committed to holding offenders accountable and maintaining clean communities. The council urged individuals to utilise proper waste disposal options to prevent fly-tipping incidents, underlining the collective responsibility to keep neighbourhoods clean.