A scrap metal dealer from Penyrheol has been prosecuted and fined for failing to produce the right documents during a stop and check operation by police, trading standards and environmental health.
Anthony Hunt, of Bryn Owain, Penyrheol, Caerphilly, was initially issued with a fixed penalty notice for failing to produce the correct documentation when Environmental Health Enforcement Officers requested information on where the waste he was carrying had come from and where it was being disposed of.
However, through non-payment of the fixed penalty notice, the case was pursued through the courts.
The case was heard on Tuesday April 17 at Caerphilly Magistrates Court. Hunt pleaded guilty to the offence under Section 34 (5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £40.
Rob Hartshorn, head of public protection at Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “We have evidence that some unscrupulous traders sell on the metal, but fly-tip the other wastes. We wish to ensure they have the correct documentation and carry out their business in a legal manner.
“Our Enforcement team will continue to work tirelessly with our colleagues at Gwent Police to tackle this issue.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council, with Gwent Police, operates a scheme called ‘No ID, No Cash’, where scrap yards are only accepting scrap from registered collectors with photo-identification.
The council’s Licensing Section are producing the photo ID cards free of charge for metal collectors.