A Stockport man who charged local residents to remove their rubbish has been fined more than £1,500 after dumping the waste illegally.
Christopher Ridgway, who advertised his services as “Stockport Waste Removal” on social media, appeared at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to operating without the required waste carrier’s licence and for disposing of commercial waste at local household recycling centres.
The court heard that residents were paying Mr Ridgway — in some cases hundreds of pounds — to collect and dispose of their waste responsibly. Instead, he was taking the rubbish to household tips at no cost, or in one case, fly‑tipping it.
During an investigation into dumped waste from an address in Marple, officers even found a Stockport Waste Removal branded T‑shirt at the scene, linking the items back to his business.
Mr Ridgway received:
- £480 fine (the maximum for the offence)
- £192 victim surcharge
- £832.70 in clean‑up and investigation costs,bringing the total penalty to £1,504.70
Magistrates noted that the offences were serious enough for a possible jail sentence. However, due to his responsibilities as a full‑time carer, they instead imposed financial penalties.
Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection, said: “This case sends a clear message that illegal waste disposal will not be tolerated in Stockport.
"Fraudulently dumping commercial waste at local tips is a serious offence, and those who break the law will face significant penalties.
"We urge residents to protect themselves and our environment by carrying out simple checks before paying anyone to remove waste. Always ask to see a valid upper tier waste carrier’s licence and confirm where your waste will be taken — and always get a receipt. Together, we can stop waste crime and keep Stockport clean."
This successful prosecution was made possible thanks to cooperation between Stockport Council and SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, who operate 20 recycling centres across Greater Manchester on behalf of GMCA.
SUEZ provided evidence of more than 30 occasions when Mr Ridgway had used local recycling centres to dispose of commercial waste unlawfully.