A Mexican restaurant has been fined £5,270 for illegally dumping its rubbish in the street.
Hackney Council brought a case against C&L Foods Ltd, which owns Mexican Express on City Road, after the restaurant repeatedly failed to dispose of its waste properly.
Under inspection, the manager denied that the restaurant’s bin bags were left outside the premises, but council officers found its till receipts among the waste.
The restaurant was also unable to provide evidence that arrangements were in place to legally dispose of its rubbish.
The council became aware of the restaurant’s lack of waste arrangements in 2011. Despite warnings from council inspectors they found further breaches in 2012 and decided to take legal action.
Thames Magistrates Court ruled C&L Foods Ltd was in breach of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, fining them £2,000 plus £3,270 in legal costs.
Councillor Feryal Demirci, Hackney council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:
“There is simply no excuse for any restaurant to dump its food waste in the street because it can’t be bothered to properly dispose of it. Dealing with rubbish left out illegally by businesses, known as unregulated waste, costs Hackney residents over £1 million per year.
“Businesses must have arrangements in place to deal with their waste, and be able to show proof when asked by council officers. There is very clear guidance on commercial waste disposal and we will always offer advice to businesses, but should a venue repeatedly flout the law they will be prosecuted.”
The manager of Mexican Express declined to comment.
