£300 penalty warning as Antrim and Newtownabbey households told waste carriers must be approved
Antrim and Newtownabbey householders who fail to ensure those disposing of rubbish on their behalf is a registered waste carrier could be issued with a fixed penalty notice for £300.
A report presented to the council’s Operations Committee on Monday advised householders can now face a penalty if fly-tipping occurs.
The report explained that in January 2023, the council was granted powers by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to issue fixed penalty notices as an alternative to prosecution for certain offences to address illegal waste disposal within the borough.
The council’s environmental health department has proposed implementation of fixed penalty notices to cover duty of care offences relating to any person or business that produces, imports, carries, treats, keeps, or disposes of controlled waste.
It also applies to householders who must ensure that anyone removing waste from their property is a registered and authorised waste carrier.
The committee report said: “This approach is proportionate, encourages early resolution and aligns with environmental health’s wider enforcement practices.”
A reduced rate of £200 for early payment within 14 days was recommended. Non payment may result in prosecution.
Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster asked: “Is it not better to have a higher penalty?”
Colin Kelly, head of environmental health and well-being, replied if a fixed penalty is set “too high”, on some occasions, it is not paid and the only option is to prosecute through the judicial process, which he described, as “quite expensive”.
He went on to say a solution is to “try to find a happy medium which acts as a deterrent and discharges the offence”.
“This is a new piece of legislation. It is not something we come across a lot because these days, there are more legally used carriers out there and good amenity sites,” he added.
Committee chair Antrim DUP Alderman John Smyth asked for rate-payers to be made aware of the change.
Party colleague Dunsilly Ald Linda Clarke commented: “Some of our residents are not on social media, particularly elderly people. A lot of them could get caught out with this.”
Mr Kelly suggested an article could be placed in the council’s ‘Borough Life’ publication.
Cllr Foster proposed accepting the recommendation to implement the fixed penalty notice and reduced payment option, seconded by Ald Clarke.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter