Failing to dispose household waste properly has cost a Brecon woman over £600 after she was prosecuted by Powys County Council.

Now the council is now issuing a warning to residents that they could face prosecution too if they fail to dispose of their household waste properly.

Ms Charlene Howland, of Uplands, Brecon pleaded guilty at Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday, October 11 for failing in her statutory duty to dispose household waste properly in prosecution led by the council’s Environmental Protection team.

She was prosecuted under Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Magistrates heard that in February 2017, the council’s Environmental Protection team received a complaint about an incident of fly-tipped rubbish consisting of approximately 30 black bags of domestic waste next to a footpath at the rear of the Struet in Brecon.

An investigation by environmental protection officers found correspondence with Ms Howland’s name and address within the bags.

Magistrates fined Ms Howland £120 and ordered her to pay £500 costs and a £30 victim surcharge, bringing the total to £650.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson, Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection, said, “Householders have a statutory duty to dispose of their household waste properly. If they don’t, then this can lead to fly-tipping, which is illegal and requires taxpayers’ money to clear up.

“We hope that this case will serve a reminder to householders to dispose of their household waste properly. Those who do are at risk of prosecution.”