Redbridge resident handed hefty fine after failing to disclose how her rubbish ended up illegally dumped in a car park in the borough

Redbridge Council’s tough stance against fly-tipping has led to a hefty court fine for a resident who failed to provide information explaining how her rubbish ended up illegally dumped in a car park in the borough.

The case was brought before Barkingside Magistrates Court by the council after its Enforcement Officers traced a fly-tip containing bags of waste, cardboard boxes and parts of an artificial Christmas Tree back to Sara Adadha Qattouch from Woodford Green.

The illegally discarded rubbish had been dumped in the car park at Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broadmead Road, Woodford Green and it wasn’t long before eagle-eyed enforcement officers found enough evidence to track the rubbish back to Ms Qattouch.

Despite repeated council requests, Ms Qattouch failed to respond to a legal notice requiring her to account for her waste being found at the site.

She was successfully prosecuted in court under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failing to provide information to the council in relation to the fly-tip and landed with a fine, as well as court and council costs totalling nearly £1200.

Robin Payne, Redbridge Council’s Operational Director for Civic Pride, said: “Dumping rubbish on the streets and in public places creates a health and safety hazard, brings our communities down and makes our neighbourhoods unpleasant for local people.

“All of our residents deserve to live in a clean and safe environment, which is why we’re taking a tough stance against grime crime and undertaking a range of initiatives including prosecution to tackle and discourage fly-tipping in the borough.”

The prosecution is part of a range of initiatives being deployed by the council to tackle fly-tipping in Redbridge, which also recently included the launch of Redbridge Wall of Shame – a new microsite dedicated to identifying culprits caught on camera dumping their trash on the borough’s streets and committing other environmental crimes.

Redbridge ‘Wall of Shame’ shares CCTV footage of grime crime offenders selfishly making neighbourhoods messy and causing road and walkway obstructions for residents by dumping rubbish illegally.

Residents are being encouraged to view the footage and share any information that may help identify the culprits in the footage to help keep Redbridge clean and tidy.

To view the latest clips head to: https://wallofshame.redbridge.gov.uk/

If you are able to identify any of the culprits caught on camera contact Redbridge Council on: Cleansing.Services@redbridge.gov.uk

The council has invested in a range of new cameras under the Wall of Shame initiative, which will allow enforcement teams to monitor fly tipping hot spots that have been previously difficult to monitor with the existing equipment. The new cameras enable the team to quickly and easily deploy a camera in a matter of hours to an identified fly tipping hotspot giving the council the ability to tackle fly tipping locations as soon as they are arising.

Residents can easily report any fly-tips they spot in the borough online through the council’s Report It page:  https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/report-it/

All fly tips made known to the council are recorded and investigated, with enforcement action being taken if evidence is found. The council aims to clear all recorded fly-tips on council land and the highway within 24 hours of it being reported.

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