A Swindon restaurant owner has been convicted after a Wiltshire Council investigation traced a large quantity of illegally dumped commercial waste back to her business. 

Environmental Enforcement officers launched an investigation after fly-tipped waste was reported on Chaddington Lane near Royal Wootton Bassett in September 2024. Officers attending the scene discovered a significant amount of commercial waste scattered in the countryside, including rotten food, catering materials, cooking oil containers, cardboard packaging, cleaning products, alcohol bottles, raw meat packaging and plastic milk containers. 

Evidence found in the waste enabled officers to trace it to a restaurant operating from Havelock Street in Swindon. Further enquiries identified the business as Irmas Valerio Limited, whose director is Mrs Cintia Vieira da Silva Valerio. 

The investigation established that the business’s commercial waste collections had been suspended between 2 September 2024 and 16 October 2024 due to non-payment. The fly-tipped waste was discovered during this period on 27 September 2024. 

During an interview with council officers in October 2024, Mrs Vieira da Silva Valerio confirmed the waste originated from her restaurant business. However, she was unable to explain how it came to be dumped on Chaddington Lane. 

As part of the investigation, the company was asked to provide waste transfer documentation to demonstrate that its commercial waste had been passed to a registered waste carrier and disposed of lawfully. Despite this formal request, no documentation was provided. 

Officers subsequently issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice (FPN) for the offence. When the penalty remained unpaid, the council began legal proceedings against Mrs Vieira da Silva Valerio for depositing, knowingly causing, or knowingly permitting the deposit of controlled waste on land without an environmental permit. Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid, the council will ordinarily pursue criminal proceedings. This is necessary to maintain the integrity and credibility of the Fixed Penalty Notice regime and to ensure offenders do not avoid liability simply by failing to pay the penalty. 

Mrs Vieira da Silva Valerio pleaded not guilty at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in July 2025. The matter proceeded to trial on 20 October 2026, where she failed to attend. The prosecution case was proved in her absence and the court found her guilty. 

A warrant has now been issued for Mrs Vieira da Silva Valerio’s arrest so that she can be brought before the court for sentencing at a later date. 

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This was a substantial amount of commercial waste from Swindon that had been dumped in the Wiltshire countryside, causing environmental harm and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for its removal. 

“Our officers were able to trace the waste directly back to the business responsible and carried out a thorough investigation which ultimately resulted in a conviction. 

“When enforcement action is taken and a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued, it is important that those penalties are paid or challenged through the proper process. Failing to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice will not make the matter go away, and where appropriate we will pursue legal action through the courts. 

“Businesses have a legal duty to know exactly what happens to their waste. If you’re unable to demonstrate that it has been passed to a registered waste carrier and disposed of lawfully, you could face enforcement action, prosecution and a criminal record. 

“We will continue to take a robust approach to fly-tipping and will not hesitate to take action against those who disregard their responsibilities and spoil our environment.” 

All businesses have a legal duty of care for the waste they produce. They must ensure waste is transferred only to registered waste carriers, obtain and retain waste transfer notes for a minimum of two years, and take reasonable steps to ensure their waste is disposed of legally. 

Businesses can find further information about their waste responsibilities and how to dispose of commercial waste correctly at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.