Cotswold District Council has taken further action to combat fly-tipping in the district, issuing a £600 fixed penalty notice (FPN) in December to a Stratford-upon-Avon resident for failing in their duty of care regarding household waste disposal.

The penalty was issued following an investigation by the council's Enviro-crimes Programmes Officer, who discovered cardboard packaging dumped on a grass verge near Mickleton, a picturesque area of the district. Evidence obtained during the investigation directly linked the waste to the individual, resulting in the FPN being issued.

This marks the fourth £600 FPN issued by the council in the past six weeks as part of its ongoing commitment to tackle fly-tipping.

Cllr Juliet Layton, portfolio holder for regulatory services, said, "Fly-tipping is a blight on our beautiful countryside, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to it. This case serves as a clear reminder that everyone is responsible for ensuring their waste is disposed of correctly. If you fail in your duty of care, you will face the consequences.

"We urge all residents to be vigilant when disposing of their waste. Be wary of door-to-door offers or informal quotes on social media. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. You are risking a large fine if your waste is fly-tipped. We encourage residents to visit our website to learn more about waste disposal and their responsibilities."

The council continues to encourage residents to take proactive steps to ensure waste is handled responsibly, including:

• Verifying the legitimacy of waste carriers by checking their registration with the Environment Agency.
• Always ask to see their Waste Carriers Licence.
• Avoiding suspiciously low-cost disposal offers, which may indicate illegal practices.
• Always get a full receipt or waste transfer notes for the waste removal work.
• Understanding that householders remain responsible for their waste until it is properly disposed of.

For more information about waste disposal and how to comply with waste responsibilities, visit the Cotswold District Council website.