Business owners have been encouraged ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste, after a Nottinghamshire man was prosecuted and fined for storing, treating and disposing of waste on land.
A 49-year-old man who operated an illegal waste site at Sunnyside, on Barnby Road, Balderton, Newark, has been fined £840 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000 in a case heard at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 24 August 2021.
Tony Briggs-Price, of Barnby Road, Balderton, was successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency for storing, treating and disposing of waste on land at his home on Barnby Road, Newark, without an environmental permit.
Briggs-Price had previously worked in the waste industry and was familiar with the legal requirements associated with environmental regulation.
On visiting the site in November 2018, Environment Agency and Nottinghamshire Police officers found large piles of waste, including approximately 100 tonnes of construction and demolition waste; approximately 160 tonnes of general mixed waste, including plastics and household waste; approximately 400 tonnes of soil; and approximately one tonne of wood waste.
They also found evidence of the recent burning of waste on the site, including smoke from the waste site, scorch marks and ash on the ground; smouldering and scorched metal items; and blackened metal coils (consistent with burning of mattresses).
The defendant had ignored three separate invitations to attend an interview under caution in 2019.
Speaking after the case Robert Vickers, the investigating officer at the Environment Agency, said: “We hope this case will send a clear message that we do not hesitate to take action to protect the environment and bring perpetrators to justice. Mr Briggs-Price operated the site without the required permit which, as well as undermining the regulatory regime, also had an impact on lawful waste operators.
“We are actively targeting illegal waste activities across the country and would urge all those seeking to become involved in the waste industry to ensure they have the appropriate permits and authorisations in place before commencing their operations.
Businesses and householders have been encouraged to carry out checks to ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste.
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£840 fine and £2,000 costs is pointless.
With at least 660 tonnes of waste on site he must have been charging someone for the disposal. Even if he charged £100 per tonne, well below market rate, he would still have taken more than £66,000.
This isn’t discouraging people from breaking the law, it is actively showing them that flouting the law comes with such minor consequences that compliance is a waste of money.
The cost of applying for an environmental permit, obtaining technically competent staff and paying an annual subsistane fee is far high than the fine and costs in this case, so running illegally seems to be the best option.
If people are to be discouraged then the fines need to be exceeding the costs of legal compliance.
With you totally on this one…not sending the right message.
£840 fine. Haha thats pathetic. Carry on regardless all you law breakers