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A report was made to Neath Port Talbot Council regarding a fly tipping incident at the access road to Unity Mine in Cwmgwrach in November 2024. The investigating officer found two large piles of construction waste, consisting mainly of plasterboard and plaster.

Their investigation led them to an address in Treherbert, where it was confirmed that a subcontractor named Shane Richards had been used to remove the waste.

A Natural Resources Wales waste exemptions check confirmed that the land did not hold the required permit for the waste to be deposited there

In February 2025, Mr Richards was invited to several interviews but failed to attend or respond.

On Friday 2nd October 2026, Shane Richards of Maerdy Road, Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taff, appeared before Merthyr Magistrates Court, for sentence in relation to this offence and several unrelated shoplifting offences.  He was sentenced to a community order for a period of 12 months with the following requirements:

• 12 months - Supervision
• 12 months - Drug Rehabilitation Requirement

Mr Richards must also pay Neath Port Talbot Council costs of £1016.97 and Crown Prosecution Service costs of £85.
 

Cabinet Member for Streetscene at Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Scott Jones, said:

"I would like to thank residents who report fly-tipping and encourage anyone who witnesses this kind of activity to continue providing information so we can take action against offenders.

“Neath Port Talbot is a beautiful county with vast areas of countryside. Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime that damages our communities, harms the local environment and places an unnecessary burden on public resources.

"Our Waste Enforcement Team works tirelessly to investigate incidents such as this and to hold those responsible to account.”

Neath Port Talbot Council remains committed to tackling fly-tipping across the county borough and urges residents and businesses to ensure their waste is only passed to authorised carriers and disposed of responsibly.