A BARNSLEY man has been ordered to pay a fine and court costs of almost £2,000 for carrying waste without the proper licence.
Mark Nicholls, of Mallory Way, Cudworth, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates Court last Thursday where he pleaded guilty to charges under the Control of Pollution Act 1989.
As part of an operation by Barnsley Council’s enforcement team and the police in June, Nicholls was stopped on Sandybridge Lane and could not produce a waste carriers’ licence for the waste in his vehicle.
The vehicle was seized by enforcement officers, and an investigation identified further offences relating to the transporting of waste for profit and that his licence had been revoked by the Environment Agency.
At the court hearing, magistrates told Nicholls they believed he knew what he was doing, due to his previous convictions for similar environmental offences and the fact he had previously owned a waste carriers’ licence.
Nicholls was fined £320 and a victim surcharge of £32. He was also ordered to pay to cover investigation time and legal costs, totalling £1,494.06.
Coun Jenny Platts said: “Thanks to our partnership work between our enforcement team and South Yorkshire Police, we have been able to stop another illegal waste carrier in their tracks.
“As part of our #EverybodyThink campaign we will continue to work with the police and the public to tackle environmental crime.
“Help us to protect our beautiful borough by making sure you only give your rubbish to someone with a valid waste carriers’ licence.
“If that person has no authority to carry waste, you can be held responsible and face court action.”
