A London-based real estate company has been ordered to pay almost £4,000 after pleading guilty to waste offences.
Fabco Properties Ltd was prosecuted by Bolton Council for a large fly-tip which was dumped on Edditch Grove.
The company pleaded guilty and was fined £1,900, plus £1,862 costs and £170 victim surcharge by Bolton Magistrates Court.
Last February, officers discovered a lorry load of rubbish on Edditch Grove. The flytip consisted of white good appliances, house refurbishment material, carpet and rubble.
Evidence was discovered relating to refurbishment of a row of properties in Haslingden, Lancashire.
Enforcement officers visited the addresses and discovered that the properties were owned by Fabco Properties Ltd, based in London, and managed by agents in Salford.
Both companies stated that they had paid a building company to refurbish the properties, and that the waste disposal was part of that job.
Both claimed that they had used this company for other jobs previously but could not confirm who had actually commissioned the works.
Fabco Properties Ltd was prosecuted under Duty of Care, Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Action 1990, for failing to ensure that the waste from these properties was disposed of properly.
Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “Businesses have a duty of care to make sure reasonable steps are taken to ensure the correct disposal of waste.
“Fabco should have checked how the building company planned to dispose of the waste.
“This prosecution sends a strong message to businesses to ensure that waste is disposed of correctly. Flytipping is a serious offence and will not be tolerated.”
Officers worked with Rosendale Borough Council, Salford City Council, the Environment Agency and Greater Manchester Police when investigating the case.
Three other cases were also heard in court and the residents will have to pay a total of £1,380 for the offences.
Maria Lakatosova (32) and Hermina Makai (27) both dumped Christmas trees behind their homes.
Lakatosova was fined £220 with £230 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Makai was fined £220 with £200 costs, and a £30 victim surcharge.
Stephanie Manock (22) was fined £220, with £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge for dumping waste in the back street.
All three defendants failed to attend court and were found guilty by magistrates in their absence.