An east London restaurant has been hit with a fine of almost £8,000 after dumping its rubbish on neighbouring streets causing a suspected rat infestation.
Million’s Lounge & Restaurant, in Chadwell Heath, pleaded guilty to six charges at a hearing at Barkingside Magistrates on Tuesday.
The High Road based restaurant was prosecuted by Redbridge Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The council’s enforcement officers discovered the restaurant’s waste bins on land belonging to other businesses.
They also discovered multiple black sacks and other loose rubbish nearby, which included used shisha smoking materials; kitchen, bar, and party waste, as well as bags of rotting raw food, large quantities of food and bar order tickets, and metal ventilation ducting - all originating from Million’s Lounge and Restaurant.
They also uncovered evidence of rats and vermin infestations caused by the rotting food and waste, which included raw chicken.
Company Director Mohsin Rashid, 32, and Millions Group of Companies Ltd were charged with four offences of fly-tipping and two offences of failing to comply with an Environmental Protection Act waste management notice.
Rashid appeared in court and pleaded ‘guilty’ to the six charges on behalf of the company leading to a fine and order to pay court and council costs, all totalling £7,675.
Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, said after the hearing: “We all have a responsibility to keep our borough clean and tidy, and this includes businesses.
“The failure to correctly store commercial waste presents a threat to the environment and public health, as well as being an eyesore for local communities.
“The majority of our local businesses act responsibly and store their commercial waste properly. But for those who aren’t doing this or think they can get away with fly-tipping their rubbish, this prosecution should serve as a strong warning that Redbridge Council will continue taking tough action against those businesses who refuse to act responsibly and legally when disposing of their waste.”
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Businesses are required by law to either dispose of their commercial waste using a registered trade waste carrier licensed by the Environment Agency, or if the business has the correct type of waste carrier’s licence.
A business can transport its own commercial waste to a waste transfer site and ensure a waste transfer note is received for it.
