An Ilford man has been fined after hiring a ‘man with a van’ to take away rubbish, which was later found illegally dumped on the streets of Barking and Dagenham.

On Saturday, 28 September the individual had paid £200 without checking if he was using a registered waste carrier and did not receive any documentation for the transaction.

Two days later, when enforcement officers from Barking and Dagenham Council investigated a pile of rubbish that had turned up on River Road, Barking, they discovered paperwork containing the Ilford man’s details.

Officers visited the Redbridge address, where the man admitted he had no receipt for the transaction. He was issued a £200 fixed penalty notice for failing to show a duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

We will use all our powers to find you and fine you

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “This shows the constant battle we have when it comes to dealing with fly-tippers driving to our borough and dumping their problem here – leaving our residents to pick up the clean-up costs, which is money that can be better spent on vulnerable members of the community.

“That is why we are clear with these crooks when we say we won’t stand for it in Barking and Dagenham. If you illegally dump in our borough, we will use all our powers to find you and fine you.”

Last year, the council recovered more than £230,000 in fines against enviro-crimes.

Cllr Mullane added: “If you have any bulky waste you need to get rid of, do the responsible thing and take it to the tip or book a collection. Although a ‘man with a van’ might seem a cheap and cheerful option, the reality is it could end up landing you with a criminal record.”

In June this year, a couple from north London were fined £200 after admitting to using an unregistered ‘man with a van’ who dumped their waste in Dagenham.