A man has been issued with a £300 fixed penalty notice in a multi-agency operation to uncover illegal fly tippers damaging the local environment.

Operation Torch involved Neath Port Talbot Council, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Police.

Officers involved in the operation posted a Facebook advertisement earlier this month requesting people or businesses to remove waste.

The fixed penalty notice was issued to a man who responded to the advertisement and removed the waste, consisting of black bin bags, plastics and scrap metal, despite being unlicensed to do so.

While the removal of the waste went on, a police officer, accompanied by a waste enforcement officer, a trading standards officer and a scrap licencing officer were waiting nearby.

The purpose of the operation was to tackle the illegal depositing of controlled waste the illegal transportation of controlled waste.

These are high priority areas for local enforcement authorities and the fire service, as dumped waste often leads to fires.

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Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said: “What was pleasing was that many of those who responded to the advert were fully licensed to carry out the waste removal service and we want to encourage licensed removers who are unfortunately being undercut by illegal carriers.

“However, there are still too many unlicensed waste carriers blighting our towns, valleys, villages and countryside areas.

“With operations like this, our waste enforcement and trading standards officers enforce a wide variety of legislation helping protect consumers from harm, protecting legitimate trade from unfair competition and preventing damage to the environment.”

Terri Harrison of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Arson Reduction team added: “We are thankful for the work carried out by all agencies involved in this operation. 

“The fire service responds to hundreds of reports of refuse fires throughout the year and there is a very clear and obvious link between deliberate refuse fires, fly tipping and the operation of unlicensed waste carriers. 

“It is a continual challenge for us and our partner agencies not forgetting the adverse impact it has on our communities.”