Palm Dry Cleaners, based on King Street in Hammersmith, and company director Shazia Nadeer were prosecuted by Redbridge Council following an investigation into a large-scale fly-tip at Aldborough Hall Nature Reserve in Ilford.
Appearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 12 May 2026, Nadeer pleaded guilty to environmental offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The court ordered Nadeer to pay fines, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £3,773, while Palm Dry Cleaners was ordered to pay £7,004. Combined, the penalties amounted to £10,777.
The council said the prosecution resulted in fines and costs totalling more than £10,000 and warned that businesses failing to dispose of commercial waste lawfully would face “tough penalties” if their waste was found dumped in the borough.
Chemical and hazardous waste found
The case stemmed from an incident at Aldborough Hall Nature Reserve, an extension of Fairlop Waters Country Park, after Redbridge’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Team was alerted by local residents to significant quantities of dumped waste.
When officers attended the site on Painters Road, they discovered three large and distinct piles of waste.
One pile contained commercial waste including blue dry-cleaning bags, cardboard boxes and plastic chemical containers.
Investigators also found two large metal drums lying on their sides containing remnants of super stabilised perchloroethylene, a hazardous chemical commonly used in the dry-cleaning industry.
The substance is classified as harmful to both human health and the environment and must be disposed of safely.
Empty plastic bottles of “Jolly Smak”, another chemical used in dry-cleaning processes, were also recovered from the site.
One of the investigating Enforcement Officers, Ron Clayden, said: “It was a large‑scale, deliberate illegal waste deposit — one of the most complex we’ve encountered within the borough.
“We spent three days meticulously examining the waste to identify any evidence that would lead to bringing those responsible to account.”
‘Zero tolerance for grime crime’
Following detailed examination of the waste and further enquiries, council officers established links between the dumped material and Palm Dry Cleaners and its director.
The council said that when questioned, Nadeer was unable to provide verifiable evidence or the required documentation showing how the business had disposed of its waste.
Officers were also unable to establish what measures had been taken to ensure the waste was managed safely and securely to prevent leaks or spills.
Nadeer and Palm Dry Cleaners were subsequently prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failing to take all reasonable measures to prevent the unlawful deposit of controlled waste and for failing to comply with requirements to produce waste transfer documentation.
Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Community Safety and Cohesion, Councillor Sunny Brar said: “We have zero tolerance for grime crime in Redbridge. All businesses are required to dispose of their commercial waste legally and responsibly and must have the required documentation to demonstrate how they do this.
“This prosecution should serve as a warning to businesses acting unlawfully that we will use the full weight of the law to secure the toughest sentences if your waste is found dumped in Redbridge.”
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