A WOMAN has been fined after she illegally dumped waste, including wooden boards, rolled carpet and broken-up wooden drawers, next to recycling containers.

Chinyere Ubah was witnessed making several trips from her car to the containers at Popley Fields on October 12, 2020, but when she left the waste was seen left on the ground adjacent to the containers.

It contained a range of household items including white wooden boards, sections of rolled carpet, carpet off-cuts, black plastic bin sacks and broken-up wooden drawers.

But Ubah, aged 45, told the court that she only dumped the waste because she had seen people putting their waste at the recycling site and was not aware it was an offence.

She was charged with fly-tipping and pleaded guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on June 1.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's cabinet member for recycling, waste and regulatory services, Cllr Hayley Eachus, said after the hearing that the authority has a "zero tolerance" approach to fly-tipping.

She said: “This prosecution means that the offender now has a criminal record for her actions and clearly demonstrates our zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping.

"This prosecution should act as a clear reminder to everybody that the borough’s recycling sites are for recycling only.

"Any waste that is dumped on the ground at these sites is considered to be fly-tipping and a prosecution will follow wherever possible.”

Appearing before Basingstoke Magistrates' Court last week, Ubah, of Fiji Close, was given a £201 fine.

She must also pay £360 in prosecution costs, £236 in clear-up costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Fly-tipping carries a maximum five years’ imprisonment at Crown Court. Since May 2018, the council has convicted 29 individuals and companies for fly-tipping and related waste offences.

Fly-tipping can be reported to the council by calling 01256 844844 or by visiting www.basingstoke.gov.uk/flytipping.