Hull Man Hit with £2,512 Fine for Illegal Scrap Metal Haul
A Hull man has been slapped with a hefty £2,512 bill after pleading guilty to transporting waste without a licence. Daley Smith, 54, from Bankside Park, Hull, was fined £800 plus £1,632 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on 13 March.
Illegal Waste Haul Caught on the Road
Smith was nabbed on 2 August 2019 by police on Reservoir Road, Hull, driving a Ford Transit loaded with scrap domestic appliances, including washing machines. Environment Agency officers found he had no Waste Carrier Licence—something that would have cost him just £154.
Smith tried to dodge responsibility, claiming he was simply doing a civic duty by collecting waste from the street and insisted he didn’t need a licence. He refused to say where he planned to take the scrap.
Scrap Metal Score Racks Up Nearly 50 Tonnes
Further investigations revealed Smith took the waste to a Hull recycling centre. Data showed he had used the centre 62 times between August 2019 and January 2020, weighing in almost 50 tonnes of scrap metal and pocketing £5,887.
Environment Agency Cracks Down on Waste Crime
The probe involved a multi-agency effort, including Humberside Police, DVSA, and Highways England targeting road crime across Humberside.
“Waste crime undermines legitimate businesses and can have significant detrimental impacts on communities and the environment,” said Iain Regan, Waste Regulatory Specialist at the Environment Agency.
“This case sends out a strong message and demonstrates how seriously we take waste crime. We’ll continue to crack down on rogue operators bending environmental laws for profit.”
“Anyone transporting waste, including scrap metal, must hold a valid Waste Carrier’s Licence. We urge households and businesses to check their waste removal services are licensed and legal.”
Don’t risk a heavy fine like Smith – get licensed and play by the rules.
