A Welsh council took an innocent woman to court after a neighbour dumped recyclable waste in her black wheelie bin. Retired secretary Catherine Maddy of Western Terrace in Ebbw Vale said if it wasn’t for her commitment to clearing her name she would likely have been found guilty of not properly recycling by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and lumbered with a fine and court costs.
At Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 22, Hayley Hawkins, appearing on behalf of the council, told the court how the local authority decided to take Ms Maddy to court after accusing her of breaching Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failing to properly dispose of her recyclable waste. But Ms Hawkins told magistrates that the council had decided to drop the case after seeing evidence from Ms Maddy which showed other people were dumping recyclable waste including drinks bottles and cans in her black bin. “After reviewing the evidence it is clear a neighbour was using her bin to put waste in,” Ms Hawkins said.
Ms Maddy's evidence consisted of pictures including of children's toys, children's medicine and nappies in her black bin which showed she probably wasn't the person using the bin incorrectly. Outside court Ms Maddy, supported by her partner Anthony Hale, told WalesOnline that the ten-month-long battle with the council has caused her stress and financial loss. She said she wishes the council had dropped the case much sooner after seeing the images.
