Rotherham Council is urging residents across the borough to make sure they dispose of any excess rubbish in the correct way and #GetRidReyt.
It is a homeowner’s responsibility to make sure that anyone they pay to dispose of rubbish is a registered waste carrier. If that rubbish is found to be dumped, then the homeowner could also face a fine.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety Cllr Emma Hoddinott said: “Residents have a duty of care around the disposal of their household waste. It is always best to check that anyone you pay to remove waste for you is a licensed waste carrier or you could be putting yourself at risk.
“If you fly tip in Rotherham you will get caught and you will get fined so it’s always best to make sure you Get Rid Reyt.”
A video of a convicted fly tipper has been shared on social media to help raise awareness of the issue.
In December 2019 two members of the same family were successfully convicted following Rotherham Council’s longest running investigation into fly-tipping.
Mr Horace Piggott, also known as Ceasar Piggott, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for numerous fly-tipping offences and connected fraud offences; his son, Deano Piggott, was given a 12 month community order with up to 15 days rehabilitation activity and 120 hours unpaid work, also for fly-tipping offences.
Mr Horace Piggott advertised his waste collection services via leaflets using a number of false names, including Michael Smith and D Price. Local residents paid for their waste to be collected, from which any valuable items such as scrap metal were removed and sold, before fly-tipping the remaining waste in country lanes in Rotherham, North East Derbyshire and surrounding areas.
Rotherham Council lead a joint prosecution; working with North East Derbyshire to investigate and present evidence to the Crown Court.
The social media video shows Mr Horace Piggott disposing waste out of his van at High Lane in Ulley and can be viewed on the Council's Facebook and Twitter pages.
Details of bin collections, bulky waste collections and Household Waste Recycling Centres can be found on the Council website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/environment
Anyone that spots fly-tipping across the borough can report it through the Council website at https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/xfp/form/183