Dumped rubbish costs Sunderland mum more than £400

Sunderland Magistrate’s Court heard a city council environment inspector had visited Courtney Small at her home in Oswald Street, Millfield, after a white plastic chair and around 20 black plastic bags of household waste had been dumped.

Michaelle Irving, for Sunderland City Council, said Small had admitted the waste was hers. She said she had been told by her landlord to clear out her back yard and she had put the waste out, hoping the binmen would take it away.

Small, 24, now of Rangoon Road, Red House, was served with a £350 fined penalty - reduced to £250 if paid with 10 days - and had agreed to pay £16 a fortnight.

A payment had been made in July but ‘no further payments have been made, so this proceeding has been brought.’

Small, who admitted illegally dumping the rubbish, said she had been unable to empty her yard because the gate was broken.

Her father had picked the rubbish up just after the environment inspector’s visit, she said.

She was fined £300, with £120 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.

The Echo launched its Clean Streets campaign in response to concern from readers about the state of the city’s streets.

Since the beginning of last year, the city council has issued 1,390 Formal Warnings and Notices and served 173 Fixed Penalty Notices for environmental crimes across the city, including littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping.

Councillor Amy Wilson, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said: “I know many people, not just me, welcome all convictions for littering and fly-tipping.

“The vast majority of people in Sunderland help keep their neighbourhoods and our city clean and tidy.

“Sadly, there’s still a minority who do not accept responsibility for their actions and it’s not good enough that they think they can just throw and dump their waste wherever and whenever they like.

“The council has increased its enforcement powers and is continuing to prosecute and investigate litter bugs at every available opportunity.

“You can report fly-tipping and litter to the council at Sunderland.gov.uk or on 0191 520 5550 or to your local ward councillor.”