FLY-TIPPERS caught red-handed in a sting codenamed 'Operation Santa' have appeared in court.
Offenders were recorded on CCTV illegally dumping waste at a site which is a notorious trouble spot during the festive period last year.
Wigan's council tax payers had to shell-out more than £1200 to remove around five-and-a-half tons of rubbish whi
ch was left outside a household waste recycling site.
Wigan Council solicitor Alison Henderson told the town's magistrates' court: "A surveillance camera was set up at the Chanters Household Waste Recycling site on Arley Way in Atherton on December 25 and 26, 2006, and signs were erected to warn fly-tippers.
"Footage was downloaded and the defendants were seen to dump rubbish outside the gates of the site.
"Under the 'polluter pays' system, we will be seeking to recover the clean-up costs from the defendants."
The vehicles used by the fly-tippers were traced through the DVLA and five of the offenders were summoned to Wigan Magistrates' Court .
Team manager, Dave Bithell says: "All of the rubbish had to go to landfill, the least environmentally viable way of disposing it and it cost the council a significant amount of money.
"Fly tipping is a criminal offence and, even in this day and age, workers are surely entitled to Christmas Day and Boxing Day off. "All we ask is that people hang on to their rubbish for 48 hours. Hopefully, this action will act as a warning that blighting local communities in this way will not be tolerated."
Of the four who turned up, all pleaded guilty and were fined £200 plus costs of £500 to cover the clean-up, investigation and legal bills.
They were; Dennis Barber, 37, of Manchester Road in Astley; Steven Bassett, 25, of Maple Crescent in Leigh; Michelle Ellis, 25, of Garden Street in Tyldesley; Robert Rigby, 63, of Dee Road in Astley.
DAvid Evans, of Laburnham Avenue, Atherton, did not appear at court and his case was adjourned until next month, along with a further four cases.
Fly-tipping can be reported to Wigan Council on 01942 404364.
This number can also be used for information on permits for householders using certain vehicles to visit the sites to dispose of household waste.
