Neta Jones refused to name the man who removed and fly-tipped tonnes of earth
Patchway fly-tipping (Image: South Gloucestershire Council )
A woman from South Gloucestershire has been fined after failing to name the man who removed and fly-tipped tonnes of earth from her garden.
Neta Jones, 55, of Bradley Road, Patchway, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on March 2, where she pleaded guilty to failing in her duty of care for waste.
The court heard that in 2025, Jones had organised for someone to dig her garden and install a pond, but that she had not made, confirmed, or arranged for the correct disposal of waste, including the dug-up earth.
Residents reported seeing “several tonnes of earth, black bin bags, carpet, and a cut out part of preformed plastic pond” fly-tipped in a car parking area in Arlingham Way, Patchway.
Jones’ garden backed onto the parking area, which had a “no fly-tipping” sign clearly displayed, and was roughly 20 meters from her property and clearly visible.
South Gloucestershire Council said: “Her rear garden contained a recently dug pond, some pre-formed plastic pond liner and carpet similar in every respect to items in the fly-tip.”
In October, environmental enforcement officers interviewed Jones under caution at her home address, where she claimed the earth, pond liner, and five or six of the black bags were from her home.
As well as not arranging for the waste to be disposed of, Jones also said she was not present when the earth had been fly-tipped, but was “aware the ‘pond’ waste from her garden had been dumped in the car park”.
Jones said she did later pay the same man who dug the pond to take away the black bags of waste, but that he had dumped them on the same fly-tip as the earth and pond liner.
She refused to name the man responsible, so Jones was reported for summons for the offence of failing in her household waste duty of care.
She was fined £200 and told to pay costs of £420 and a victim surcharge of £80.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Illegally dumped waste is not only unsightly and can negatively impact communities, but it is also a serious environmental crime that costs the council time and money to clear.
“We all have a duty to dispose of our waste responsibly and that includes when dealing with third party waste collectors.
“Residents are advised to be wary of cold callers and businesses or people advertising waste clearances on social media sites such as Facebook.
“There are a number of legitimate options for waste removal, including the council’s large household waste collection service.
“If you hire a third-party to dispose of your waste, always ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate, make a note of their details and ask where the waste is being taken.
“Prosecutions like these protect our environment and create cleaner and safer places for our communities. These are key priorities of the Liberal Democrat/ Labour partnership.”