The shop owner was sentenced at Bexley Magistrates Court on 18 January 2023 for five separate waste related offences.

The Council received a number of complaints about business waste dumped outside a NISA store in Eltham. In April 2022 our enforcement team within Street Services monitored the location and found several unbranded domestic black sacks dumped on the public highway sited approx. 10 metres from the store.

The team identified several pieces of merchant receipts, business address labels and commercial plastic packages that belonged to Mr Chavda’s business.  

Mr Chavda had been previously warned by the Council about illegal waste dumping and had been advised on several occasions but had chosen to ignore all notices.

Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities said

“We must clamp down on illegal waste dumping, which is both harmful to our environment but also our community. It is a shame that Mr Chavda continued to illegal dump rubbish even after being given several warnings.

“As a business you have a legal responsibility to ensure that your produce, store, transport and dispose of your business waste without harming the environment. This should be a warning to all business owners, if you are found illegal waste dumping, you will be caught and you will be fined.”

It is legal requirement that businesses keep copies of trade waste contracts for the previous two years. If you are suspected of illegally dumping business waste, the Council can request documents for up to the past two years. Failure to show these may result in a fixed penalty notice of up to £300 or the matter being referred to court, where if found guilty a fine of up to £5000 may be given.

If you’re are business owner, head to www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/business-waste to find out more about how you can recycle and get rid of your business waste