A disgruntled man was caught deliberately dumping human waste and other hazardous materials on the grounds of a school in the U.K., apparently as retaliation for a pay dispute.
According to the BBC, James Blewitt, 35, admitted to dumping the waste at Musicale, a school supporting young musicians in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Blewitt's firm, Atlas Waste, had been hired to remove waste from the school, but later returned and left material on the school grounds in protest over nonpayment.
When interviewed by council members under caution, Blewitt accepted that the school was unaware of the payment issue because a third-party broker organized the work. He also agreed that the waste dumped at the school was different from the waste that had been removed. The court heard that the waste included razor blades, sanitary items, boxes, doors, a toilet, plastic, wood, and construction materials, as well as human feces, per the outlet.
Blewitt was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison — suspended for 12 months — and told he must pay £3,417 (about $4,677) in fines, which includes £984 ($1,346) in compensation to Musicale.
Edgar Hill, a member of the council in charge of its recycling and waste, told the BBC: "It is appalling that this foul material was dumped in the grounds of a busy Harpenden school, exposing young people to potential harm. The court clearly agreed with our decision to prosecute the offender instead of issuing a fine, and I am pleased that a suspended prison sentence was imposed."
Enforcing proper waste removal and dumping is crucial to the health and safety of communities. Illegal dumping causes a host of issues, such as providing a breeding ground for disease-carrying vermin, polluting ground and surface water, creating hazards for people and children, and impacting plants and wildlife, according to Los Angeles County.
These problems are universal when people engage in illegal dumping, which creates expensive cleanup for neighborhoods and decreases their property values and quality of life if it becomes an ongoing issue.
Illegal dumping is an all-too-common issue, with people dumping loads of waste in the Pine Barrens in New York, or a man who was busted for leaving a pile of waste, aka fly-tipping, in the middle of the street.
The best way to combat this disgusting and dangerous act is to report problems as soon as they're spotted. It's also important to support legislation that penalizes this kind of activity, while encouraging lawmakers to seek improved recycling and sustainability processes and laws.
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