A Tonypandy woman has learned the hard way after her waste was found dumped in Penrhys!
Ms Tyler Marie Richards, from Bridge Street, Tonypandy is believed to have paid someone in good faith to remove a large amount of waste, which included 15 black bags and 4 recycling bags - all containing general household waste, a cardboard box, a plastic kennel, a black plastic bin and general loose waste. The person she paid then dumped the items at Heol Teifionydd, Penrhys.
When Ms Richards was tracked down she failed to engage with the Enforcement Officers and didn’t attend a number of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) interviews in relation to fly-tipping that had been discovered.
As a result, it was decided to take court action against her for failing to control her waste and committing an offence under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Ms Richards was found guilty at Merthyr Magistrates Court earlier this month and handed a Fine of £120, Costs of £255.51 (clean-up costs only) and a Victim Surcharge of £48 - Totalling £423.51.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure said:
"Fly-tipping will not be tolerated, EVER. There is NEVER an excuse to blight our, towns, lanes, streets and villages with waste, and we will find those responsible and hold them to account.
“Our teams work hard to keep our streets and back lanes clean, and fly-tipping of any kind will not be tolerated.”
“This case acts as a clear reminder to householders or businesses that if you pay someone, other than the Council, to take your waste away, you should always check they have a waste carrier licence and ask for a waste transfer note. If your waste is fly tipped, you could be fined along with the individual or company you paid to remove it.
"Removal of fly-tipping costs hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, which should be spent on key front-line services at a time when budgets are under significant pressures.
"We will use EVERY power available to us to hold those accountable for their actions. Many of the items we recover on our streets, towns and mountains could have been taken to a Community Recycling Centre or collected from the kerbside at no extra cost."
The Council has a weekly, unlimited, kerbside dry, food waste and nappy recycling service, and a number of community recycling centres that accept larger items, across the County Borough, so there's no excuse for fly-tipping, especially items that can be collected at the kerbside or recycled right here in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
You can check if a person or business has a waste carriers licence at National Resources Wales.
For more information on how to report Fly-Tipping, Recycling and Community Recycling Centres in RCT follow the Council on Facebook/Instagram and Tik Tok or visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk.
Posted on 02/07/2025