Beverley Bradford, 50, and Terrance Ainge, 51, formerly of Llandarcy-based Nationwide Recycling Limited, were both sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for two years for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
The two must also both carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and have 12 months to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £3,000.
Nationwide Recycling Limited, which is now insolvent, was raided in December 2010 by the Environment Agency. An investigation found the company weighed plant, machinery and lorries to generate false weighbridge tickets and invoices for recycled materials that was never in fact received by it for recycling.
According to Natural Resources Wales, the company also falsified registrations of proposed vehicles bringing waste to the site. Following a vehicle check with the DVLA, the investigation found one vehicle to be a Harley Davidson motorbike that had allegedly carried 20 tonnes of glass into the site.
This led to an estimated financial gain of over 2m through the fraudulent issue of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) between January 1 2009 and October 1 2010 for materials that were neither received nor recycled, contrary to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.
Directors
Directors of the company Paul Thomas, 48, of Eastland Road, Neath, and Andrew Thomas, 47, of Cefn Road, Bonymaen are in custody awaiting sentence. The two directors and two employees pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story).
‘In this case, the actions of the offenders have undermined the recycling markets and industry which are vital to make sure the waste we all produce is not sent to landfill’ – Lead officer John Rock, Natural Resources Wales
The judge said he accepted the roles of Bradford and Ainge in the fraud were lesser than the Thomass.
Operating as you did undermines public confidence in the regulatory system and the integrity of those operating within the law, said Judge Paul Thomas.
But said he was satisfied neither Bradford or Ainge would have become involved it is was not for the insistence of their employers.
The level of profit dishonestly obtained by you was substantially lower than the manager and director of the company, he said, before ordering the pair to pay 2,000 in costs.
Ainge has already been told to repay 9,835 and Bradford 2,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
These figures do not reflect your total involvement, said the Judge.
Lead officer John Rock at Natural Resources Wales said the actions of those breaking the law for profit would not be tolerated.
He said: As regulators of the waste industry, we have to make sure that all companies operate legally to make sure there is a level playing field.
In this case, the actions of the offenders have undermined the recycling markets and industry which are vital to make sure the waste we all produce is not sent to landfill. People who do consider breaking the law simply to make money must understand that not only will they be punished for their offences, the profits they make are also at risk.
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