Building firm admits fly-tipping

A Manchester building company has been ordered to pay a penalty of more than £800, after admitting to a fly-tipping offence committed in Wythenshawe.

Wrafter Building Services, of Parkend Road, Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at a hearing on 13 June 2017, at Manchester Magistrates Court.

After a large fly-tip of industrial waste and material was found dumped in Hasty Lane, Wythenshawe on 31 March 2016, officers from Manchester City Council’s Environmental Crimes Team launched an investigation.  A search of the waste uncovered evidence, including receipts, which linked the crime to Wrafter Building Services.

When contacted by the council, Wrafter said they were unaware of how the waste got there and would not attend an interview to discuss the case, as they had nothing further to add.  They were subsequently prosecuted under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The company pleaded guilty at the hearing, saying that what they described as a ‘one-off’ incident was likely to be the fault of a ‘rogue employee’.  In mitigation, they offered evidence to show that they typically dispose of waste responsibly.

Wrafter Building Services were fined £200 and ordered to pay £605.09 in court costs – a total penalty of £805.09.

Executive member for neighbourhoods, Cllr Nigel Murphy, said: “I’d like to thank our Environmental Crimes team for this latest prosecution.

“Companies have a duty to dispose of their waste responsibly every single time and there can be no excuses for fly-tipping in our neighbourhoods.

“This was a particularly egregious example and I hope that firms across the city will take note of this successful prosecution – and ensure that all of their employees understand their obligations to dispose of waste in accordance with the law.”