An East Devon landlord has been issued with a fixed-penalty notice for fly-tipping plies of waste, including a mattress, children's toys, drawers and tables and several binbags. However, according to Rob Waldron of Honiton Litter Pickers, the £400 fine wouldn't even cover the costs of clearing the waste up.

The rubbish was left at Yawl Cross Woods Trail, near Lyme Regis, in October 2021 and it was cleaned up by East Devon District Council (EDDC.)

The fine was given to the landlord due to his lack of care in disposing of his tenant's possessions. He was unable to prove that he had used a licenced waster carrier to dispose of the rubbish.

The landlord was given a fixed penalty notice for £400, and this was then reduced to £200 because he paid the fine within 10 days. There may be additional fines related to the incident because EDDC is investigating the unlicensed waste carrier which the landlord used.

Cllr Geoff Jung, EDDC's portfolio holder for coast, country and environment, said: "This is a good reminder to residents and landlords that their responsibility for their waste doesn't end when they pay someone to take it away.

"It is so frustrating, that with so many wonderful volunteers spending their spare time picking up rubbish and litter in our beautiful countryside and on our beaches that some people think they can get away with fly tipping!

"I can assure you, we will always prosecute, if we can identify the person responsible, and to those great volunteers, thank you!"

Rob Waldron runs Honiton's Litter Pickers. He echoed Cllr Geoff Jung's frustration and told Nub News: "Sadly, I don't think £200 is much of a deterrent. It's not even paying back the costs involved. I can see some just paying a fine as an easy way out.

"£400 should have been the reduction from £1000 fine. Some community service as well would have been good. Perhaps litter picking!"

You can report fly-tipping to EDDC here.

If you would like to help clean up East Devon's countryside, you can contact Honiton Litter Pickers [L] https://www.facebook.com/groups/2280705102074337 [L+] here.