Martin Harvey, who operated the site on land he owned at Shepherds Farm, St Newlyn East, appeared before Truro Crown Court on 3 October 2025, where he pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the operation of the site without an Environmental Permit.
The site contained a mixture of household, demolition and hazardous waste, including white and blue asbestos.
Harvey received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay full costs of £16,653.99 within 12 months.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, he must also repay £72,500 he made from his illegal waste business by 9 January 2026 or face a further three months in prison.
Sally Turberville of the Environment Agency said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the financial benefit they obtain from their illegal activities.”
Waste used to fill valley and watercourse
The court heard that Harvey had no Environmental Permit authorising the deposit of waste at the site.
Despite repeated warnings from the Environment Agency (EA), he continued to accept large quantities of household, demolition and hazardous materials, using them to fill a wooded valley and a watercourse in order to create level areas of land.
Investigators found that Harvey intended to develop the land but had no planning permission for any construction that would have necessitated the waste importation.
Between February and July 2023, EA officers made several inspections and advised Harvey that his operations were illegal and that waste importation must cease immediately.
‘A modest sum’
Harvey was invited to attend an interview under caution and later submitted three written statements.
He claimed his intention was to raise and level the land for agricultural buildings, saying he believed he could legally import up to 10,000 tonnes of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramic mixtures under certain waste exemptions.
He denied that asbestos-containing materials were present on the site and offered no details of payments received for waste, other than describing them as “a modest sum.”
Turberville continued: ““Offenders like Harvey simply won’t get away with concealing information or their assets. Waste crime can be a blight on the environment, communities and to legitimate businesses.”
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