Plastered on camera: Council tracks down drain‑dumping plasterer
A brazen act of drain‑dumping in broad daylight has triggered the latest crackdown by Telford & Wrekin Council, after a witness spotted someone pouring plaster and plaster‑contaminated water straight into a roadside drain on Market Street, Wellington.
The culprit didn’t count on CCTV cameras catching the incident. Combined with an eyewitness report, officers used the footage to trace the vehicle to an address on Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery.
The discovery has put business waste crimes back in the spotlight, with the Council warning that companies cannot ignore their responsibilities under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The successful investigation ended with a £450 duty of care penalty for an individual who failed to handle waste safely - a lapse the Council says puts the environment at unnecessary risk.
Determined to keep neighbourhoods clean, safe and protected, the Council says this latest case shows it is prepared to act fast and act firmly, whenever waste is dumped illegally.
Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said: “Environmental crimes like this are a serious offence that harms our communities, and we will continue to investigate incidents thoroughly and take swift enforcement action wherever necessary.
A request for information was sent, including a demand for waste‑disposal contracts and an explanation. No response was received, and a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for a duty of care offence was issued on 19 January 2026. The individual has since paid the FPN - but has still not explained the illegal dumping.
The Council says this case is a reminder that businesses handling building materials, commercial waste or hazardous by‑products must follow the law, including:
- Holding a valid Waste Carrier Licence
- Keeping full documentation of where waste is taken
- Ensuring it is disposed of at a licensed facility
- Preventing pollution and environmental harm
Failure to comply can lead to unlimited fines, imprisonment, vehicle seizure, and significant enforcement action. While this breach involved a business, the Council is urging residents to remain vigilant. When household waste ends up fly‑tipped, the homeowner can still be fined, even if they paid someone else to remove it.
Residents are advised to:
- Always ask to see a Waste Carrier Licence
Check on the Environment Agency’s public register:
https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers - Get a receipt and record of where your waste is going
- Be wary of cheap social‑media offers — unlicensed operators commonly advertise low‑price clearances
- Know the consequences
- Householders can receive fines of up to £600 if their waste is later found fly‑tipped
- Unlicensed carriers may face £1,000+ Fixed Penalty Notices, alongside prosecution
Fly‑tipping pollutes the environment, wastes taxpayer money and undermines community pride - and the Council says it is committed to tackling it head‑on.
Residents can support the crackdown by reporting fly‑tipping through the MyTelford app. Anyone with information that could help stop offenders is urged to call the Council’s confidential hotline 01952 388800.