Richard Butler, who had been operating a site at Woodleas Farm, was handed the fine at Canterbury Magistrates Court yesterday (September 17). Mr Butler was ordered to pay a 10,000 fine, 1,500 in costs and a 15 victim surcharge.
The trial followed an investigation by the Environment Agency which discovered Mr Butler was running the site as a waste transfer station where large skips of waste would be stored and processed.
The Agency said Mr Butler had been operating a waste transfer station intermittently at the site, which lies within close proximity to several residential properties, since June 2011. Environment Agency visits at that time discovered skips full of waste, including batteries, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and mixed construction and demolition waste.
Agency officers informed Mr Butler that he was committing an offence by operating the site without the necessary authorisation, and carried out further visits to monitor the removal of the waste to authorised facilities and ensure that waste operations ceased.
According to the Agency, further visits in 2011 and 2012 saw fluctuating levels of waste on the site, as it claimed that Mr Butler would clear waste from the site as requested but continued to bring waste back for sorting and treatment.
It added that in January 2013 Mr Butler admitted to operating his premises as a waste transfer station, and also to burning waste on site during the period of the investigation.
Following the first visit by officers in June 2011 Mr Butler began trying to obtain the relevant planning permission to operate the site as a waste transfer station, and this was granted in April 2013. However a permit is still required from the Environment Agency to operate the site, and a meeting with environment officers after that date discovered that Mr Butler was still operating the site and treating waste at the property.
Blatant disregard
Commenting on the case, environment officer Nick Ennis said: Mr Butler was fully aware that he was not permitted to operate as a waste transfer station but continued to operate, ignoring the advice and guidance issued to him by Environment Officers. His actions showed blatant disregard for local residents and businesses, and put the environment and local amenity at risk. Waste crime can undermine legitimate businesses, so we work closely with businesses to help them comply with the law.
In cases like this where individuals consistently operate illegally, we have no hesitation in prosecuting them as we want to make sure that waste crime doesnt pay.
When contacted by letsrecycle.com Mr Butler was unavailable for comment.
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