Mid and East Antrim fly-tipping warning after conviction leads to £500 fine

The council has reported a rise of almost 30% in fly tipping in the borough this year with almost 48 per cent of cases in the Ballymena area.

Welcoming the prosecution, a spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said:  “The outcome in this case generated a hefty bill for the individual concerned.

“As well as receiving a £500 fine for littering (fly tipping), he was ordered to pay a court fee of £22, professional costs of £300 and an offender levy of £15.

“The total he will now have to pay is £837, an outcome he could have avoided if he had brought the items of waste to his local household recycling centre.”

Council enforcement officers have been working in partnership with a number of agencies including Northern Ireland Water, Woodland Trust, Forestry Service, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Northern Ireland Electricity, Social Housing Associations and private owners/occupiers to address the issue.

Enforcement action has been taken in instances where fly tipping is persistent.

The council has stated that “enforcement in known hotspots continues to be a priority” and is encouraging residents to report offenders.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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