The Environment Agency has said a businessman has been jailed for allowing thousands of tonnes of waste, including hazardous material, to be illegally deposited at a site in Somerset.
Plastic, metal, foam and other materials were illegally deposited at the site
According to a statement from the Agency yesterday (8 April) Cardiff-based Mark Foley was jailed for 2 years and 3 months for illegally depositing 100,000 tonnes of waste at Stowe Quarry, near Chew Valley reservoir.
It follows an investigation carried out but the Environment Agency in 2016.
The Agency added that Foley’s firm, M E Foley (Contractors) Ltd, which ran the site under an environmental permit, failed to provide the court with any company accounts and was fined £72,000.
Crown Court
Bristol Crown Court described the case as “one of the most serious risks of harm in the country during the past 30 years”.
Foley was also jailed for a further 18 weeks, to be served concurrently, for supplying false information to the Environment Agency.
Rebecca Kirk of the Environment Agency said: “It has taken 3 years of meticulous work for our investigation into Stowey Quarry to reach this stage. This was environmental offending of the highest order.
“I am pleased the judge acknowledged the seriousness of the offences committed and this is reflected in the sentences being handed down to those who orchestrate and take advantage of such criminal practice and show a blatant disregard to the environment and public health.”
Investigation
The Agency reported that the Quarry was only permitted to accept clean and non-hazardous material, including soil and construction waste.
Leachate has appeared in some areas due to the pollution
It added that an investigation showed the rules were “routinely flouted”.
Despite “repeated warnings”, the illegal tipping and waste disposal continued and in October 2016 the Agency served M E Foley (Contractors) with a suspension notice that cancelled its permit with immediate effect.
The Agency launched an investigation to establish risk to human health and the environment from the illegal waste activities at the site.
Samples taken from the site showed a “high percentage” of chopped and shredded plastics, metals, foam and other man-made materials. Analysis also showed that about half the samples were hazardous.
The Agency said that the site was “dishonestly” accepting the wrong type of waste, and the operator was lying about the amount being received.
After checking waste transfer notes provided by the waste producers and hauliers, the Agency estimates that in 2016 alone, almost 95,000 tonnes of waste was deposited at Stowey Quarry, which is double the 44,950 tonnes declared by M E Foley (Contractors) Ltd.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
