‘Man with van’ charged York resident to take away rubbish – then dumped it here

A ‘man with a van’ charged a York householder for taking their rubbish to the tip – then dumped it in a field.

He now has a bill of more than £1,000 after being found guilty of fly-tipping.

Adam Winterburn, aged 29 of Kingsmoor Road, Stockton on the Forest, responded to a Facebook post from a woman in Haxby.

She was looking for someone with a van to remove some rubbish at her property.

Winterburn privately messaged the woman offering to take the waste to the tip for £35. He said he couldn’t do it for any less as the household waste recycling centre would cost him around £15.

Winterburn collected the waste later that day and was paid £35 in cash.

Unsightly and costly

Days later, the waste was found dumped in the entrance to a field off Eastfield Lane in Dunnington.

Evidence was found linking the waste to the address in Haxby and the resident produced screenshots of all the messages from Winterburn.

Winterburn telephoned the council moments before his first interview to say that he wouldn’t be attending. He also failed to honour a second interview date or respond to any correspondence from the council.

At York Magistrates’ Court Winterburn pleaded guilty and was given a £307 fine, a £30 court surcharge and £720.45 prosecution costs – a total of £1,057.45.

Cllr Andrew Waller, interim deputy leader and executive member for environment, said:

Being licensed to collect, carry and dispose of waste is a legal requirement. Fly-tipping is unsightly, risks pollution and clearing it up creates costs for local council tax payers.

Please check your waste carrier is properly licensed.

For information on commercial waste and residents’ responsibilities go to the City of York Council website.