A builder has been charged almost £2,500 for fly-tipping – after he trusted a van driver to dispose of his waste.
Mr Ziwu Chen, of Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, gave the man a bath, toilet and wooden sign to get rid of. But the driver then dumped the waste in Drop Lane, Bricket Wood, on December 15.
Although Mr Chen never fly-tipped, by not checking the driver had a proper waste carrier’s licence, he was charged with failing to discharge his duty of care in disposing of waste.
Mr Chen pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates' Court on November 30 and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay the council £881 towards legal costs.
He also had to pay compensation of £448.37 for waste removal costs and a victim surcharge of £100.
Last year fly-tipping cost St Albans District Council £41,420 to clear up.
Councillor Daniel Chichester-Miles, responsible for environment, said: “Fly-tipping leaves a real blight on the landscape and is hated by most people.
“Everyone has a legal duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly. Remember to take your waste to a local authority waste site or, if you run a business, use a waste carrier registered with the Environment Agency.”