Man fined after illegally dumping rubbish during Covid pandemic

A Caithness man has been fined more than £12,000 for illegally dumping waste during the Covid pandemic.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said James Beresford was seen depositing rubbish at Weydale, near Thurso, between March 2020 and May 2021.

Sepa said documents found among the rubbish had names of people who had allegedly paid Beresford to collect and dispose of their waste.

The rubbish included household black bags, furniture, white goods, plasterboard, insulation, carpets, doors, tyres, asbestos sheeting and garden waste.

Sepa said Beresford did not have a waste management licence, or permission from the landowner to use the land.

The agency said a scientific assessment concluded the waste posed a risk of harm to the environment.

It issued Beresford with a variable monetary penalty (VMP).

Senior manager Stuart Baird said: "This penalty demonstrates that Sepa will use its enforcement powers to hold individuals and companies to account.

"We encourage everyone arranging waste disposal to check that they are using a registered waste carrier and that waste goes to an authorised site.

"Doing so protects our environment and helps avoid the financial and reputational risks of breaking the law."