Fly tipped waste costs supermarket more than £7,300

A company director has been ordered to pay more than £7,300 in fines and court costs after waste from her supermarket was found in South Oxfordshire.

Mrs Thi Thanh Hoa Dao, the director of Bao An Orientals Ltd, Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, appeared at Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday 13 November. She pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failing in her duty of care for commercial waste.

On 4 November 2019, South Oxfordshire District council received report of fly tipping in the entrance to a disused warehouse in Pyrton Lane, Pyrton, Watlington. An environmental enforcement officer found a van load of cardboard and packaging. Some of the packaging was addressed to Mrs Hoa Dao’s supermarket.

In an interview with council officers, Mrs Hoa Dao said she paid £25 cash to some individuals to remove excess waste from her business. She was unable to provide any information regarding the identities of the individuals, nor did she have any paperwork.

In mitigation, Mrs Hoa Dao said her business was an oriental supermarket with two staff and a turnover of £6,000 per week. She said she had learnt lessons regarding who they passed their waste onto.

Cllr David Rouane, Cabinet member for Housing and the Environment, said: “Fly tipping is an eyesore, can be dangerous, and is terrible for the environment. I hope  that anyone reading about this case will learn from it. Business owners must dispose of commercial waste properly or face the possibility of expensive court action.”

We take flytipping seriously. For what to do if you see rubbish dumped without permission, click here. For ensuring your waste is disposed of legally, click here.