TWO STROUD residents who illegally dumped waste, including asbestos, have been sentenced by magistrates.

Oliver Edwards was charged with running a waste operation without a permit, and knowingly causing others to do the same, after removing household rubbish from a home in Cashes Green.

After pleading guilty at Cheltenham Magistrate’s Court he was given a three year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £320 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Nicholas Smith was employed to remove asbestos roof tiles form a house in Leonard Stanley. A van he hired was used to collect both the household rubbish from Cashes Green and the asbestos from Leonard Stanley, which was all later dumped in Stonehouse.

The vehicle’s tracking device linked its movements with the location of the dumped waste and proved it did not visit any licensed asbestos depots.

Smith was charged with running a waste operation without a permit in Cashes Green and Leonard Stanley as well as depositing controlled waste at Ryeford Industrial Estate without a permit.

He was given a sentence of four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months on condition that he carries out 200 hours of unpaid work. Smith was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 plus £500 compensation to Stroud District Council and a victim surcharge of £115.

Councillor Simon Pickering, chair of Stroud District Council’s Environment Committee said: “Clearly it is not acceptable for anyone to dump waste illegally and the council takes fly-tipping very seriously.

“It should be noted that we all have a shared responsibility for our district and it’s important that householders think carefully before getting someone else to dispose of any type of waste.”

A Stroud District Council spokesman added: “The first and best course of action for residents is to recycle their waste, either by putting it in the correct recycling containers or by taking it to a charity shop.

“If you do employ someone else to dispose of waste for you then it it’s your responsibility to check that they have a valid Waste Carriers Licence.

“If you employ someone to dispose of asbestos you can check whether they are licensed on the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association website www.arca.org.uk”