A WOMAN who dumped unwanted electrical items has been ordered to pay back more than £1,000 after being caught on CCTV.

On Sunday, June 4, Diane Marshall, of Chopin Road, dumped the items at a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council-owned recycling site at Brighton Hill Shopping Centre.

The case was brought by the council after the 60-year-old was captured by surveillance cameras leaving two large electric lawnmowers on the ground in front of the small electrical items bank.

Cabinet member for residents’ services and housing, Cllr Laura James, said: “Leaving items on the floor or on top of the bins is fly-tipping and we have made this clear to residents with information and signage at the recycling sites.

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“We really want people to understand that our recycling sites must only be used for recycling and not for dumping unwanted appliances or other household items. People who do so are likely to receive a fine and risk getting a criminal record.

“Our website has information on where to recycle or dispose of items and I would encourage people to visit this if they are unsure.”

Marshall appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 20 and pleaded guilty to a fly-tipping offence.

Magistrates imposed a fine of £615, a victim surcharge of £246 and court costs of £604.60.

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Cameras and signage have been installed at all six council-owned recycling sites as part of a pilot project to help reduce fly-tipping in Basingstoke and Deane with funding from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Since they have been in place there has been a reduction in the amount of fly-tipping at these sites.

Since November 2022 the council has had four successful prosecutions using evidence from the surveillance equipment. Evidence from these cameras has also supported council officers to issue 50 fixed penalty notices, five written warnings and one formal caution.

Visit basingstoke.gov.uk/a-z-waste-and-recycling for more information on what to do with unwanted items.