Three people in two separate cases have been ordered to pay a combined total of more than £3,500 after waste was discovered in the Dulais Valley and on a street in Port Talbot.
This first case saw waste strewn across two miles of land along a road between Crynant and Cilfrew in the Dulais Valley. It was first reported on 6th November (2025).
The waste contained a mixture of vehicle parts, oil-coated components, commercial waste, household items and fluorescent lighting tubes.
Following some initial enquiries, 38-year-old Roger Townsend contacted investigators saying he wanted to discuss waste he’d deposited in Crynant.
The 38-year-old admitted the offence of illegally depositing the waste, as well as revealing he had no waste carrier licence. A review of Natural Resources Wales records also confirmed no applicable waste exemptions existed along the Crynant–Cilfrew road.
At Swansea Magistrates Court on July 9th, 38-year-old Roger Townsend from Morriston pleaded guilty to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 offence. He was ordered to pay £946.75 in costs, £202.21 in compensation, a £200 fine and a Victim Surcharge of £80, totalling £1428.96.
Separately, waste consisting of plastic boxes, broken plasterboard, a black bag and a dust sheet was reported to have been left at Holland Street in Port Talbot on 19th February (2026).
Investigators tried to speak to the residents at the address, but their attempts were initially unsuccessful. Later that same day, they spoke to one of the residents over the phone who confirmed the waste originated from his property and stated he would remove it that day.
When officers checked the address the following day (February 20th), the waste was still there.
Brian and Gemma Morgan then failed to engage with the Council’s investigation after the initial telephone call into a fly-tipping incident outside of their property. This was despite several attempts and the issuing of a Fixed Penalty Notice.
At Swansea Magistrates Court on July 9th, Brian Morgan who is 33 and 39-year-old Gemma Morgan from Port Talbot were sentenced for failing to comply with Section 108 of the Environment Act 1995. Neither attended so were prosecuted and sentenced in their absence.
Brian and Gemma Morgan each must pay a fine of £660, a victim surcharge of £264 and costs of £146,25, which is a combined total of £2140.50.
Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Cllr Scott Jones said:
“The type of waste seen in the Dulais Valley case, which included vehicle parts and oil-contaminated materials, is very damaging to the environment and will not be tolerated, while the second case proves enforcement action will be taken if warnings to remove waste are ignored.
“The successful prosecutions, which have resulted in fines, costs and compensation totalling more than £3,500, demonstrate our determination to hold those who break environmental laws to account.
“I would like to thank our enforcement team for their diligent investigative work. We will continue to pursue offenders and use the powers available to us to protect our communities, while encouraging residents to dispose of waste responsibly and ensure anyone removing waste on their behalf is properly licensed to do so.”
