Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce further successful prosecutions in its ongoing campaign against fly-tipping. Two individuals have been fined a total of £5,235 for their involvement in illegal waste disposal.
Case 1: Fly-tipping in Ossory Way, Bedford
In February 2024, an officer from Bedford Borough Council's Enviro Crime team discovered black sacks of fly-tipped waste on Ossory Way in Bedford. A thorough search of the waste revealed items that linked it back to Mr. Marin Nikolov, a resident of Bedford. Despite multiple attempts to reach Mr. Nikolov at his home address and through written communication, he failed to respond.
Following these unsuccessful attempts, the Council issued a notice under Section 108 of the Environment Act 1995. This notice required Mr. Nikolov to attend the council offices for an interview or make alternative arrangements to cooperate with the investigation. Unfortunately, Mr. Nikolov continued to be unresponsive and offered no assistance to the Council's inquiries.
As a result, the case was brought before the courts. On November 26, 2024, Mr. Nikolov failed to appear at Luton Magistrates Court. He was found guilty in his absence of obstructing the Council's investigation and ordered to pay a £1,500 fine, £843 in court costs, and a £600 victim surcharge, totalling £2,943.
Case 2: Fly-tipping off Cambridge Road, Cople
In April 2024, an officer from the Enviro Crime team found a significant amount of building refurbishment waste dumped illegally off Cambridge Road in Cople. A meticulous examination of the discarded materials revealed a connection to an address in West London. Further investigation identified Mr. Christian Lingurar from Burnt Oak, London, who had been contracted to refurbish and fit a new business in the area. The contract reportedly included the responsible disposal of any waste generated during the project.
The Council requested Mr. Lingurar to attend a formal interview under caution with the Enviro Crime team. However, Mr. Lingurar declined to appear. Subsequently, the Council served a notice under Section 108 of the Environment Act, similar to the one issued in the first case. This notice again required Mr. Lingurar to attend the council offices for an interview or make alternative arrangements to cooperate.
Unfortunately, like Mr. Nikolov, Mr. Lingurar chose not to respond to the notice or offer any assistance to the Council's investigation. Therefore, the case proceeded to court. On November 26, 2024, Mr. Lingurar attended Luton Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to obstructing the Council's investigation. He was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, £892 in court costs, and a £400 victim surcharge, totalling £2,292.
Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said:
“There is no excuse for fly-tipping and we will not tolerate it in Bedford Borough. It is a blight on our communities and a serious environmental crime. These cases highlight the consequences of ignoring legal notices and failing to cooperate with investigations. By taking swift and decisive action, we are sending a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Bedford Borough.
“We urge residents to report any incidents of fly-tipping, and we encourage businesses to dispose of their waste responsibly. Together, we can protect our environment and maintain a clean and safe community."
How to Report Fly-Tipping:
- Visit the Bedford Borough Council website and report fly-tipping online at www.bedford.gov.uk/fly-tipping
- Help us identify people from CCTV images who we would like to speak with in relation to fly-tipping. View the images and tell us what you know about any of the incidents at www.bedford.gov.uk/CaughtOnCamera
How to Find a Licensed Waste Carrier:
To ensure waste is disposed of legally and responsibly, it’s crucial to hire a licensed waste carrier:
- Check the Environment Agency’s Public Register: This online register lists licensed waste carriers. You can search by postcode to find carriers operating in your area on www.gov.uk/find-registered-waste-carrier or by calling 03708 506 506.
- Ask for a Waste Carrier Licence Number: Before hiring a waste carrier, ask for their licence number. You can then verify this number on the Environment Agency’s register.
- Request a Waste Transfer Note: A reputable waste carrier will provide you with a Waste Transfer Note. This document records the transfer of waste and helps track its disposal.
Please remember that residents and businesses are responsible for the disposal of their waste. If waste is found fly-tipped, the resident or business it belongs to are likely to receive a fixed penalty notice.
Bedford Borough Council provides a chargeable service for the collection of household bulky waste items which are too large for regular household and recycling collections. Learn more at www.bedford.gov.uk/BulkyWaste
The council also offers commercial services, such as waste and recycling services. Learn more at www.bedford.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice/commercial-services-businesses