A resident who sold waste disposal services on Facebook – only to fly-tip the rubbish – has been fined by magistrates.
Lee Nelson, of Hollands Avenue in Folkestone, dumped furniture, mattresses, a bed base and electrical appliances in Sandy Lane after charging £90 online to dispose of the items.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council found the fly-tip on 15 March 2022 and quickly identified the defendant as the perpetrator, however he refused to engage.
Mr Nelson pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failure to provide waste transfer notes at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 12 April 2023.
He was fined £700 and ordered to pay £70 compensation and £180 costs – a bill totalling nearly £1,000.
A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping is anti-social, a nuisance and comes at a price as Mr Nelson has now found out.
“Online services can seem too good to be true sometimes – you should never let someone take your waste away until they have proved they are legitimate.
“You can do this by checking they have a trade waste licence and ensure they provide you with a waste transfer notice for the items removed. Without these documents, you could be liable for a fine too.”
Household waste can be easily disposed of by using our bulky collection service or visiting one of Kent County Council’s household waste recycling centres.