A Manchester man was fined more than £1,000 ($1,333) after illegally dumping a large pile of construction waste on public land.
According to the BBC, 36-year-old Stephen Cawley pleaded guilty to the illegal waste disposal, which took place more than two years ago.
On April 17, 2023, authorities discovered a massive pile of household and construction waste on land beside a footpath along Altrincham Road — the same road where Cawley lives.
Investigators traced the dumped materials to a nearby property undergoing renovations. They later learned the work had been contracted to Cawley’s construction company, Builder Boys Ltd.
“So he dumped it on his own f****** road?” one commenter asked in disbelief under a Reddit post sharing the BBC report.
Improperly dumping household or commercial waste on public roads is illegal and creates an eyesore, while also costing taxpayers money. Local authorities must send cleanup crews to remove the debris and restore safe conditions.
Many Reddit users criticized Cawley for shifting the cleanup costs to the public, especially since the waste came from his own building business.
He left the debris exposed and unattended, increasing the risk that loose materials could enter waterways, pollute oceans, or harm nearby wildlife habitats.
The court ordered Cawley to pay £320 to Manchester Magistrates’ Court, £750 to cover the cost of the illegal dumping, and an additional £128 victim surcharge.
“Flytipping remains a selfish and disgusting crime which impacts our communities and environment,” councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said
Protecting public spaces and the environment from illegal dumping helps ensure everyone can enjoy the natural world as it should be.
Some Reddit users also took issue with the penalty.
“Joke of a fine,” one commenter wrote.
“Still seems cheaper than getting rid of it properly,” another added.
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