SHOPS in Middlesbrough are being warned to deal with their waste - or face the courts.
Middlesbrough Council is concerned that waste generated by shops taking in extra stock for Christmas could end up blowing about the town's streets. It has previously prosecuted businesses for a breach of duty of care - and warns it will not hesitate to prosecute in future.
Middlesbrough Council's executive member for community safety and leisure, Councillor Barry Coppinger, said: "All operators of businesses have a legal duty of care to ensure that their waste is properly stored, collected and disposed of. It's an offence to fail to comply with this duty of care and offenders could face a maximum fine of £5,000 if they are caught.
"The council spends more than £1m a year clearing up illegally dumped waste - money we'd much rather spend on other things.
"We've started a programme of inspections of waste disposal arrangements and to date ten per cent of the businesses inspected may be breaking the law."
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