Company fined for illegal disposal of waste on common land

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has successfully prosecuted Bob Gay Plant Hire Ltd for illegal disposal of soil and construction waste on common land near Senghenydd, Caerphilly.

Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard that 2900 tonnes of the waste was deposited between March and July 2020 without the necessary permits or exemptions in place.

The last deposit was after NRW had ordered the company not to dispose any more waste following its initial investigation, which the district judge deemed deliberate.

The company was directed to put the waste on Eglwysilan Common by Terry Jones of Pen-yr-Heol Las Farm.

Terry Jones had registered a waste exemption at his farm to use waste in construction. But the exemption did not include the nearby common and far exceeded the 1000 tonnes allowed of this type of waste to be stored for use.

At the hearing on 16 March 2022, the district judge fined the company a total of £7,320 and ordered them to pay NRW costs of £5,197 and a victim surcharge of £170.

Jon Goldsworthy, Operations Manager for NRW, said:

Waste crime can have a negative impact on the environment, people’s health and their local communities.

We will prosecute those who seek to profit by breaking the law and whose actions undermine legitimate businesses operating within the waste industry.

We hope the outcome of this case sends a clear message that we will always take the appropriate steps to protect people and nature while also protecting the marketplace for legitimate operators.