Suspended Prison Sentence for Illegal Waste Activity
10 February 2025
A man has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay costs of £10,000 for his role in an illegal waste activity.
Trevor Smith, 49, of Ashington, Northumberland, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
The court heard that Smith had been operating a waste transfer station in Ashington without an environmental permit. He was storing large quantities of waste, including tyres, fridges and other electrical items, on the site.
The waste was not being managed properly and was causing a risk of pollution. The Environment Agency (EA) received complaints from local residents about the site and launched an investigation.
EA officers visited the site and found Smith was operating illegally. They issued him with an enforcement notice requiring him to stop operating the site and remove the waste.
Smith failed to comply with the notice and continued to operate the site. He was subsequently arrested and charged with environmental offences.
Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Smith pleaded guilty to two offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. He was sentenced to a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Speaking after the sentencing, an EA spokesperson said: “This case shows that we will not hesitate to take action against those who flout environmental regulations.
“Illegal waste activity can cause serious harm to the environment and to human health. We urge anyone who is aware of illegal waste activity to report it to us.”
To report illegal waste activity, please contact the Environment Agency’s 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Suspended prison sentence for illegal waste activity
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