Environment Agency releases picture of waste mountain at site of illegal operation in Farndon after Newark man sentenced for running it
The Environment Agency has released a picture of a mountain of waste at the site of an illegal waste operation after a Newark man was sentenced for running it.
Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard Samual Hussan, 61, of Bevercotes Close, Newark, made a significant financial gain from operating the site where he would burn waste — despite the business being called Sammy Recycling Ltd.
Operations at the site commenced in February 2018 and the Environment Agency said Hussan had been paid £50 per tonne for the waste — and there were 300 tonnes of bales on the site.
Environment officers discovered the waste included road plainings, wood, plus construction and demolition waste. There were also at least 1,000 bales of waste containing carpets, duvets and mattresses.
Hussan, who admitted the offence at a previous hearing, received a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, a 12-week curfew from 8pm to 6am, was ordered to pay costs of £18,236.20 and a victim surcharge of £115.
He was also disqualified from being a company director for five years.
At a previous hearing, the landowner of the waste site Frederick Hardy — a director of Hardy's Farm Shop in Farndon — admitted he had knowingly permitted the operation without the necessary environmental permit.
Hardy, 75, of Corner Farm, Farndon, was fined £2,666 and ordered to pay costs of £18,236.79 and a victim surcharge of £170.
The court was told Hardy was under Hussan's spell and had subsequently cleared the site at a cost in excess of £64,000 and removed the waste to landfill.
Newark and Sherwood District Council first received a complaint about the burning of materials on the site in March 2018.
Hussan initially denied burning waste and that the majority of his activities had involved the grading of wood. He said he believed exemptions from an existing environmental permit covered his activities.
Hardy admitted he had organised access to the site from neighbouring land and for the construction of a weighbridge.
Environment Agency officers in May 2018 de-registered 14 exemptions for the site on the basis that it posed a significant environmental risk.
A spokesman for 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.
"These people 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 should carry out checks to ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste. To check if a waste carrier is genuine visit environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index.
"Anyone who suspects a company is operating illegally can call the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
