We have carried out a number of successful prosecutions for littering and fly tipping.
Following action taken by Medway Council’s Environmental Enforcement team, magistrates have handed out almost £4,500 in fines across three separate cases.
Business waste dumped
On 24 September 2023, CCTV cameras at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre spotted a van with signage for RLM Roofing and Guttering dumping waste onto a grass verge near one of the car parks.
Following an investigation, a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle, Tommylee Mead, of Matts Hill Road, Sittingbourne, under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The Fixed Penalty Notice remained unpaid, and on 28 May 2025 the case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court.
Mead pleaded guilty, and magistrates ordered them to pay a total £3,474.52.
Household waste left on public land
On Saturday, 4 May 2024, one of the council’s Street Scene Officers was working on Reform Road, Chatham.
Whilst there, they discovered seven black sacks and several household items left on a public footpath near an alleyway behind properties on Castle Road, Chatham.
Upon inspecting the waste, items were found linking the bags to a property on Castle Road, Chatham, and a letter was sent to the occupant, Mihai Mutu, on 24 May 2024 requesting an explanation.
No response was received, and a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, for failure to comply with the householder’s duty of care.
The Fixed Penalty Notice was not paid, and the case was heard at Medway Magistrates' Court on 20 May 2025.
Mutu pleaded guilty and magistrates order them to pay a total of £586.
Rubbish thrown from car
On 14 May 2024, the council received a report of littering on Watling Street, Strood. A witness spotted Luke Mannerings, of Edwards Close, Snodland, throw a plastic bottle out of their car and on to the road.
A Fixed Penalty Notice was issued under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 but went unpaid, and the case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 20 May 2025.
The case was proved in absence, with magistrates ordering them to pay a total of £393, and commending the witness who brought the evidence to the attention of Medway Council.
Follow through with enforcement
Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Community Safety and Enforcement, said: “We will continue to take a firm stance on fly-tipping and littering.
“This selfish behaviour increases the costs of our street cleansing, which in the previous financial year was around £4million – a cost which is ultimately borne by local taxpayers. When we find evidence of fly-tipping, or littering, we will always follow through with enforcement whenever possible.”
You can report littering and fly-tipping in Medway on our website.