A Royston man who dumped his rubbish on Therfield Heath has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 following an investigation by North Herts Council.
After the waste was found on the heath - which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - it was traced back to where the man had been living.
He was issued a fixed penalty notice of £400 (£300 if paid within 10 days) which he ignored.
The man was summoned and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 26, and fined £480 - which would have been £700 if he had not pleaded guilty.
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He was ordered to pay costs of £1,115.22 and a victim surcharge of £48, totalling £1,643.22.
Cllr Amy Allen, executive member for recycling and waste management, said: "It never ceases to amaze us why people think it’s OK to get rid of their waste like this.
"Your rubbish is your responsibility and it’s not fair to dump it wherever you like, especially on a nature conservation site.
"We investigate every fly-tip and hope this serves as a warning to anyone even contemplating dumping their rubbish, which is unsightly, costs councils thousands of pounds every year and can pose a risk to wildlife."
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