A STOURPORT man admitted illegally dumping waste on land which did not have a Waste Management Licence at Kidderminster Magistrates Court.

Terence Hipkins, aged 54, of Pinta Drive, Stourport-on-Severn, pleaded guilty to a charge, brought by the Environment Agency under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Mr Hipkins was fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Speaking after the case, Peter Yeomans, an Environment Agency environment officer involved in the investigation, said: "People have a responsibility to dispose of waste they produce properly and the agency takes any instance of illegal dumping, or fly-tipping, very seriously.

"There is no such thing as 'safe' fly-tipping - all waste impacts on the environment and quality of life in some way."

For the agency, Claire Andrews, told the court that on Friday, June 13, 2003, an Environment Agency officer was dealing with a pollution incident near Pinta Lane.

During the operation, the agency officer heard dumping taking place and when he went to investigate, he spotted Mr Hipkins throwing waste down a bank on to open land.

The officer approached Mr Hipkins and advised him that he could not deposit waste on the land.

Biodegradable

Mr Hipkins said that it was biodegradable and that he had dumped it there because the local tip was closed. He told the officer that he would return to remove it later.

The Agency officer recorded the registration number of Mr Hipkins' car and returned to the site on Saturday, June 14, and five days later. The cuttings remained.

In mitigation, Mr Hipkins told the court that he had made a mistake.