A MAN has been fined £200 by Powys County Council for dumping rubbish in an alleyway in Newtown.

The fine was issued by the council’s Waste Awareness and Enforcement Team, which investigated six black bags full of recycling and waste that was found dumped in the alleyway behind Falcon Court in Newtown last month.

These bags were searched by an enforcement officer, who found evidence in the rubbish that linked it back to a resident living in Newtown.

Interviewed under caution, the suspect implicated their daughter-in-law for the offence.

The daughter-in-law, who admitted to dumping the bags in the alleyway, received a £400 fine under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. They accepted the fine and paid £200, as an early repayment option is available if the fine is paid within 14 days.

Cllr Phyl Davies, cabinet member for recycling and waste, said: “When investigating fly-tipping incidents, it is often the case that suspects say they have too much rubbish for the three-weekly collections.

“In this case, an examination of the waste found that the bags were full of plastic bottles, glass, cans, paper and cardboard, which are all collected from the kerbside every week.

“If people make full use of our weekly kerbside collection service, this really helps to reduce the amount of rubbish created in the first place.

“For waste that can’t be recycled, householders should use their own blacked wheel bin or purple sacks. Alternatively, householders can use their nearest household waste recycling centre."

He added: “We need to reinforce the message that fly-tipping is a criminal offence that harms the environment and costs taxpayers’ money when it has to be cleared up. We will clamp down on those who dispose of their waste illegally.

“This case should be a warning that we will investigate this anti-social behaviour and take enforcement action.”