A man in the United Kingdom has been found guilty of illegally dumping roof sheets containing high levels of asbestos, per the Bucks Free Press.
Gurpreet Singh Chatha, 46, from Hayes admitted to "fly-tipping" waste when he appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates' Court.
The court was told that corrugated roof sheets containing asbestos were left along the Buckinghamshire stretch of the A412 Uxbridge Road on March 22 after Chatha's wife had asked him to dispose of them.
Supposedly, he had first taken the waste to his home address but decided to illegally dispose of it after his wife reprimanded him for doing so.
Chatha was fined 923 English pounds ($1,228) and ordered to pay full costs of 2,927 pounds ($3,895). A further 363-pound surcharge ($483) left him being required to pay 4,219 pounds in total ($5,615)
"Fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Buckinghamshire," said Carl Jackson, the county's council cabinet member for environment, climate change and waste, per the Bucks Free Press.
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"To dump any sort of waste, let alone toxic materials like those dumped in this case, is a reckless and selfish act. I am pleased the court has imposed a hefty fine as punishment for this criminal action," Jackson continued.
Fly-tipping, the British term for illegal dumping, is considered a serious crime in the United Kingdom. Depending on the volume of trash dumped, the consequences can vary from a simple fine to prison time, as in one recent case in Birmingham.
Illegal dumping can not only pose a danger to the environment by contaminating local water supplies and potentially endangering wildlife that may accidentally consume or become entangled in piles of trash, but it is also unsightly. It can reduce the curb appeal of neighborhoods.
Dumping waste with asbestos is particularly dangerous because the material is carcinogenic and challenging to clean up — despite the worrisome reversal of position on this substance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Do you throw your old batteries in the trash? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Yes — always 😬 Holding city officials accountable for charging individuals who participate in illegal dumping is an important step toward ensuring your local environment stays clean and safe for everyone.
Taking action to clean up any trash you see or calling local authorities will help make a big difference.
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