Site-owner Concept Investments, alongside its director Austin Fitzgerald, admitted to offences related to allowing an illegal waste site to operate on the site.
During sentencing at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in April 2026, Fitzgerald was ordered to remove the waste from the land on Rutland Road, Sheffield.
The company and Fitzgerald were also ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £20,000.
Another man, aged 38 and from Sheffield, pleaded guilty to operating the illegal waste site and is due to be sentenced on 16 September.
Ben Hocking, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire said: “Illegal waste operations impact on the environment and the lives of local residents and I’m pleased this site has now been fully cleared.
“This should serve as a warning for landowners that if you allow illegal waste activity to take place on your land we will take action.
“We are cracking down across the sector on those flouting the regulations.”
The site contained inert waste such as soil and stones, mattresses, and mixed waste, including fridges and other electrical items.
The court heard that landlord Concept Investments allowed a waste site to operate without an environmental permit.
During its second visit in late 2022, the EA told the occupier that they could not store waste at the site and gave them six weeks to clear it.
In January 2023, Agency officers found that none of the waste had been cleared and additional waste had accumulated.
The Agency subsequently served a formal notice requiring the site to be cleared by 5 June 2023, which was not complied with.
In late 2024 and early 2025, complaints were received about the burning of waste and the operator was advised by Sheffield City Council to cease burning.
In March 2025, Fitzgerald was interviewed by the Environment Agency, where he said that he inspected the site regularly.
Another visit from EA officers in April 2025 revealed there was still waste present.
The company was fined £8,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £5,442, while Fitzgerald was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 140 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay costs of £5,442 and a victim surcharge of £114.
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