Littering comes with a criminal record in South Cambridgeshire, England.
A man was fined over £9,000 — over $12,000 — after being found guilty of fly tipping: the illegal dumping of waste in an unauthorized area.
South Cambridgeshire District Council News posted that after reports of the violation, an investigation brought the Northern London man to court for fly tipping more than 50 miles away from his residence, an hour and a half's drive away.
Photo evidence showed the litter consisted of cardboard waste, furniture, several garbage bags, children's toys, and a Christmas tree, among other household trash.
The 56-year-old man denied any wrongdoing, provided no further explanation, and failed to appear in court. The case was heard in his absence, and he was found guilty and fined for his crimes.
"We believe this is the first time one of our fly tipping cases has been heard in a London court and it … sends a very clear message that fly tipping is not tolerated," the lead cabinet member for environment for South Cambridgeshire District Council, Councillor Natalie Warren Green, was quoted in the post as saying. "Fly-tipping isn't just an eyesore; it's illegal, harmful to our environment, and unfair to our communities. Everyone has a legal duty to dispose of waste responsibly."
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Fly tipping is an unsightly form of pollution that harms the environment. It contaminates the soil and water with harmful toxins, disrupting ecosystems and putting everyone's health and safety at risk. Discarded trash can damage wildlife habitats or be mistaken for food by animals. It can also attract rodents and spread disease.
Luckily, fines are becoming the norm, forcing people to think twice about where they toss their garbage. Another man in London was charged £4,600 (about $6,200) for dumping his bed on the side of the road. Knowing your recycling options and how to declutter will ensure you steer clear of fines while doing our planet a massive favor.
The District Council is advising residents to use only authorized waste collectors registered with the Environment Agency. They also recommend obtaining written records and keeping personal waste secure, so it isn't fly-tipped or tampered with. Failure to do so will result in penalties and hefty fines. Lastly, they encouraged all residents to report any incidents of fly tipping.
"I commend the Environmental Crime team for their excellent detective work in tracking down this offender," district councillor for Caxton and Papworth Peter Sandford stated in the post. "I encourage all residents of South Cambridgeshire to report any fly tipping on the Council's website."
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