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At Swansea Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, 36-year-old Shaun Robert James of Woodland Road, Crynant, Neath, admitted illegally depositing controlled waste at Edward Street, Port Talbot, contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act,1990.

The magistrates heard Neath Port Talbot Council Waste Enforcement Officers were alerted to the waste on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, and after investigation work they found evidence linking the waste to Mr James.

Mr James was contacted several times by Waste Enforcement Officers and after initially denying he was responsible for the waste over the telephone, he attended a formal interview at Neath Civic Centre earlier this year where he admitted responsibility.

A decision was taken following his admission to issue him with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for the sum of £400 payable within 14 days. However, as part of the conditions of the FPN, if payment had been received within 10 days, a lower amount of £280 would have been payable.

When Mr James subsequently did not pay the FPN he was prosecuted for illegally depositing controlled waste.

After his guilty plea the magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £556.12 in prosecution costs with a Victim Surcharge of £48.

Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene said: “Fly-tipping is an environmental crime which blights our communities and yet again our Waste Enforcement Officers have worked hard to bring a prosecution.

“The council has the power to issue FPNs for these offences but as this case shows we will prosecute if the FPN is not paid. Hopefully this case will send a clear message to people of the consequences of illegally depositing waste in Neath Port Talbot.”