A fly-tipper has been fined a total of £2,191, after being tracked down by Havering Council’s environmental enforcement team.
Council officers had followed up a report of dumped waste bags in Allendale Road, Hornchurch.
They found information in the bags that traced it back to the address of Jelena Jermakovica.
Jermakovica, from Hornchurch, ignored FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices) a statutory notice under the s108 Environment Act 1995, plus several requests and invites to assist with the investigation by the Council.
At Barkingside Magistrates Court, Jermakovica, who failed to turn up, was prosecuted in absence with a fine of £440 and also had to pay a victim surcharge of £176 and costs of £1,575, totalling £2,191.
Helen Oakerbee, Havering’s Director of Planning and Public Protection, said:
“We won’t tolerate the illegal dumping of waste in our borough and as this example shows, we will take the necessary action against those who think they can get away with it.
“Fly-tipping is a serious crime which negatively affects our residents, businesses and the local environment.
"Each year we’re left with unnecessary clean-up costs of around one million pounds with council taxpayers left to pick up the bill.
“We ask residents to not only dispose of their rubbish legally and responsibly themselves, but if they are using waste carriers, to check that they have the correct licence.
“We also continue to encourage residents to report fly-tipping and help us make our borough cleaner.”