A BUSINESSMAN has been fined after he gave waste to an unlicensed waste disposal service in return for a car wash.

Osman Ahmed, 29, of Clarence Gardens, Crook, pleaded guilty to failing to dispose of his waste responsibly at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Following the discovery of a large fly-tip in Bishop Auckland in February, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood wardens traced the origins of the rubbish to the Crook Hand Car Wash.

Manager Ahmed later admitted a man had arrived at the business and offered to remove the waste in exchange for a car wash.

Magistrates agreed with the council that Ahmed was negligent in his duty to responsibly dispose of waste.

He was fined £330, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £33 and costs of £253.90, which were paid to Durham County Council for the costs of the investigation.

In a separate case heard at the same court, Thomas Adey, 36, of Collingwood Court, Washington, was found guilty in his absence of failing to provide assistance to a fly-tipping investigation. He was fined £440 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £44 and the council's costs of £467.01.

He had been paid by a householder in Washington to dispose of rubbish after she had a new kitchen fitted but he dumped it in Urpeth Lane, Chester-le-Street.

Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “The vast majority of people do the right thing and get rid of their waste legally, but there’s a small minority who continue to blight their communities.

“There’s no excuse for not providing Neighbourhood Wardens with the information they need to prosecute fly-tippers, and we hope this will act as a deterrent for those who think they’re above the law.

“People have a responsibility to know where their waste is going to end up, and sometimes when the price is too good to be true – it is just that.

“If your waste is fly-tipped and traced back to you, you could be taken to court and prosecuted.”