Fly-tipper caught by military helicopter loses waste licence
The Environment Agency revoked a trader’s licence to carry waste after he was convicted of fly-tipping, burning waste and false advertising on Facebook.
Corey Ross Carr was caught on camera by a passing helicopter while trying to set rubbish on fire instead of disposing of it properly
Image credit: Ministry of Defence
Melksham resident Corey Ross Carr of Somerset Crescent, who operated CC Waste Removal & Clearance, pleaded guilty to 4 environmental and one Trading Standards offence at Swindon Magistrates Court in June in a case brought by Wiltshire Council.
The court saw video footage shot by a passing Ministry of Defence helicopter taken on 17 November 2021 of Carr dumping waste and setting a mattress alight on land owned by Wilts & Berks Canal Trust in Melksham.
Melksham resident prosecuted for fly-tipping offences
On top of the court’s sentence, which included £1,295 fine and costs, the agency, working with Wiltshire Council, revoked Carr’s licence to carry waste to prevent any further waste-related criminal activity.
Stephanie Marriott of the Environment Agency said:
The culprit used Facebook to advertise his services, illegally referring to his business as ‘fully audited’ by the Environment Agency. This was a lie.
Holding a waste carrier’s licence means signing up to a commitment to properly dispose of waste in the right place. And if you break that commitment, we revoke your licence.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Waste, said:
This fly-tipping prosecution was a great example of partnership working, and so it’s great news that Mr Carr’s licence to carry waste has been revoked by the Environment Agency.
We will not tolerate fly-tipping in Wiltshire and will continue to work closely with partnership agencies to prosecute anyone who believes that they can flout the rules and blight our communities and environment.
Fly-tipping can be reported to your local authority. But to help reduce these cases ask your waste removal trader to prove they have a waste carrier’s licence, never pay cash and always get a detailed receipt which says where the waste is being taken.
Background
We all create waste, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our waste is handled correctly. You must make sure you know where your waste goes so it doesn’t end up in the hands of operators who break the law.
You could be breaking the law if your waste isn’t managed properly. Visit Right Waste Right Place to help you comply with the law. You can also refer to the Defra Waste Duty of Care code of practice.
It’s important that you take steps to:
- only pass your waste on to a registered waste carrier
- check online to see if the people handling your waste are registered waste carriers at https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
- ensure the people handling your waste are complying with their own duty of care responsibilities and where appropriate report any suspect activity to 0800 80 70 60
- we support local partners through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG) which has published a series of fly-tipping prevention guides for householders, businesses and landowners, outlining best practice for the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of fly-tipping