A COURT has heard that three men had dumped more than a thousand tonnes of waste illegally, causing nearly one million pounds worth of damage.
The waste, which was compacted into cube-shaped bales and wrapped in plastic sheeting, was deposited at an industrial unit on the Llay Industrial Estate in Wrexham.
Anthony Gordon Park, from Carmarthen, Gavin Taylor, from Sheffield, and Karl Jones, from Rotherham, were found to be responsible for filling the unit with waste bales that were stacked high to maximize capacity.
During an inspection by officers from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in May 2017, the unit was found to be more than three-quarters full with waste bales generating heat and emitting a strong odor. A large number of flies were also present in the unit.
In addition, extensive damage had been caused to the building, later found to be worth an estimated £934,589.51. Further financial investigations are ongoing under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Park was sentenced for operating a regulated facility otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit on 26 April.
Park received a 14-month custodial sentence to be suspended for 18 months.
Co-defendants Taylor and Jones, were also sentenced for knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited on land otherwise than in accordance with an environment permit.
Taylor also received a 14-month custody to be suspended for 18 months, whilst Jones received a 12-month community order with 68 hours unpaid work.
FCM Commercial Services Limited was also punished for knowingly transporting waste and depositing it at the industrial unit. It was ordered to pay fines and costs amounting to £6,500.
David Powell, NRW Operations Manager for North East Wales, said: “This successful prosecution shows that NRW is serious in its aim to clamp down on illegal waste offences across Wales.
“Whether you’re the waste producer or carrier, everyone has a legal duty to check that the person or company taking and depositing the waste is registered on NRW’s public register. In this case, the landowner ended up paying for the waste to be removed.
He added: “The heat being produced by the waste meant there was a real risk of self-combustion and fire. Had officers not intervened when they did this could have ended in catastrophe for the surrounding area, local environment and the public.
“We would like to thank colleagues at North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service for their cooperation in this successful prosecution.”
