Brighton builder Paul Godding fined for dumping waste

Paul Godding, of Mafeking Road, Brighton, was caught after a passerby spotted him disposing of the commercial waste in a bin only a few minutes from his home.

Mr Godding, who runs his business from his home, was contacted by environmental enforcement officers, and he was unable to produce a waste transfer note upon request.

A waste transfer note is needed for people that are disposing of business waste from construction, demolition, industry or agriculture.

Mr Godding, 49, appeared before Brighton magistrates on July 2.

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He was prosecuted for two different offences - disposing of commercial waste illegally under Section 33A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as well as the failure to produce a waste transfer note under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

He pleaded guilty to both offences and was fined £600 with £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £60.

Councillor Jamie Lloyd, deputy chairman of the council's environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: "It's not only dangerous but also against the law to dispose of commercial waste in resident's bins.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Jamie Lloyd

"We have two recycling sites where plasterboard can be taken, so there's no excuse for dumping it in a street bin.

"This sort of offence happens too often, so we are grateful to the resident who brought this to our attention.

"This case shows we will take the firmest action possible again people who break laws which damage the environment."