FLY-TIPPING in York has landed a pub landlord with a £1,000 fine.

Mark Forrest, of Harrogate, pleaded guilty to dumping his commercial waste at Clifton Moor Retail Park in November 2004.

Successfully prosecuted by City of York Council, he was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,493.10 in costs. They revealed Mr Forrest used an unregistered business to take away refuse at a cheap rate - which was then fly-tipped.

Council bosses have promised to clamp down on people who fly-tip in York.

Jackie Armitage, head of the council's Street Environment Service, said: "Fly-tipping is a growing problem in the UK and the council is committed to tackling the issue in York through the York Pride initiative.

"We will not tolerate fly-tipping in the city and this prosecution proves that the courts take the matter very seriously.

"Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, fly-tippers can be forced to pay for the mess they create as well as the costs of tracking the culprits down. Those found guilty of fly-tipping can be fined up to £50,000 and face five years in prison.

"Every business has a duty of care to ensure that its refuse is disposed of lawfully by using a registered waste carrier or taking refuse to a licensed site themselves.

"The defendant had used an unregistered business to take away his refuse at a cheap rate, which was subsequently fly-tipped.

"Every waste carrier should show their certificate of registration and provide transfer notes for the refuse they take. Only by taking these steps can businesses ensure that the refuse they produce will not end up in a back lane or open space."

Figures released earlier this week show that fly-tipping costs local authorities more than £44 million a year nationally to clear up.

Local authorities and the Environment Agency have been granted new powers to recover these costs from the offenders. Additional new measures in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, give local authorities more effective powers to investigate and catch fly-tippers. Landowners or occupiers who have had to clear fly-tipped waste can also recover costs.

Updated: 10:06 Friday, October 21, 2005