The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Jail term for fly-tipper who dumped tyres
Afly-tipper who dumped 51 tonnes of tyres on waste ground has been jailed for 11 months. Declan Clarke, 30, from Dumbarton, collected the tyres from places such as garages for a fee and then dumped them in car parks and on land around Glasgow.
Around 500 tyres were dumped at Gartloch Farm, near Gartcosh to the east of Glasgow, between October 8 and 22 2020 while more tyres were deposited there on November 13 the same year. Prosecutors said the vast majority of the tyres were dumped at Dalsetter Crescent in Drumchapel and were consumed in a fire on July 24 2020. It caused so much smoke it disrupted flights at Glasgow Airport.
The remnants were cleared by Glasgow City Council workers. They found the debris consisted of 51 tonnes of tyres and 17 tonnes of household waste.
Clarke pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste, namely used tyres, on land otherwise than in accordance with a waste management licence, in breach of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, at a previous court hearing in April.
He was sentenced to 11 months behind bars when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing, the Crown Office said.
Speaking afterwards, Fiona Caldwell, procurator fiscal for wildlife and environmental crime, said: “Fly-tipping causes the public real and legitimate concern. It is criminal behaviour which creates an eyesore and is costly to clear up and one that the local council must often carry.
“Declan Clarke’s deliberate and criminal action showed a lack of consideration for the environment and undermines legitimate waste management companies.”
Prosecutors said that between June and August 2020, a large number of tyres were fly-tipped in the Drumchapel area.
Gartloch Farm has frequently been used as a dumping ground by flytippers and as a result wildlife cameras have been installed on the land. These cameras captured Clarke, using a number of different hire vans, dumping tyres.
On November 20 2020 police executed a search warrant at Clarke’s home and found him hiding under a bed. A key for another hire van was discovered and the vehicle, parked outside his flat, was found to be full of tyres.
A mobile phone was also seized which was found to contain messages between Clarke and proprietors of garages and tyre fitters in which the collection of tyres was discussed.
From the messages it appeared that Clarke was charging £1-£2 per tyre. Clarke was not connected to the fire. Prosecutors said the estimated cost of cleaning up Gartloch Farm is £120,000 and a further £2,800 to dispose of the remaining tyres.