UK Waste Operator Fined

A waste operator who ran an illegal unlicensed site in Belvedere, United Kingdom, was fined following an investigation into his activities by the Environment Agency.

James Gannon pleaded guilty to keeping and treating controlled waste without a license and was fined a total of £2,000 (US$3,700).

An investigation was brought after the Environment Agency received information from a member of the public concerned about Gannon’s waste activities at his site in Mulberry Way, Belvedere. When enforcement officers from the Environment Agency inspected the site they found a mixture of construction and demolition waste, brick, rubble, timber off-cuts and plasterboard, in several piles spread around the site, as well as heavy machinery to help move the waste.

However, Gannon had not secured a waste license to permit the keeping and storing of waste at the site.

Keith Frenchum, investigating officer for the Environment Agency said: “We have dedicated investigation and enforcement teams whose purpose is to investigate illegal activities such as this, and Mr Gannon should have been well aware that his site needed a waste license to cover his activities.

Gannon pleaded guilty to one count of keeping controlled waste without a license and to another count of treating controlled waste without a license under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.