Men dumped tons of illegal waste at Llay Industrial Estate causing almost £1m worth of damage

More than 1,600 tonnes of mixed waste were compacted into cube shaped bales and wrapped in plastic sheeting Credit: Natural Resources Wales

Three men illegally dumped more than a thousand tonnes of waste resulting in almost a million pounds worth of damage, a court has heard.

More than 1,600 tonnes of mixed waste, compacted into cube shaped bales and wrapped in plastic sheeting, were illegally deposited at a unit on the Llay Industrial Estate, Wrexham.

A court heard Anthony Gordon Park, from Carmarthen, Gavin Taylor, from Sheffield and Karl Jones, from Rotherham, were responsible for filling the industrial unit over three-quarters full with waste bales, stacked high to fit as many in as possible.

Following an initial inspection in May 2017, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) officers found the unit building to be over three-quarters full with waste bales. The bales had been stacked high to get as many as possible into the building.

Once inside the unit, the officers could feel the heat being generated by the bales of waste, whilst there was a strong odour and a large number of flies present.

More than 1,600 tonnes of mixed waste, compacted into cube shaped bales and wrapped in plastic sheeting, had been illegally dumped Credit: Natural Resources Wales

In addition, extensive damage had been caused to the building, later found to be worth an estimated £934,589.51. Further financial investigations are ongoing under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

Park was sentenced for operating a regulated facility otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit on 26 April.

Park received a 14-month custodial sentence to be suspended for 18 months.

Co-defendants Taylor and Jones, were also sentenced for knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited on land otherwise than in accordance with an environment permit.

Taylor also received a 14-month custody to be suspended for 18 months, whilst Jones received a 12-month community order with 68 hours unpaid work.

FCM Commercial Services Limited was also punished for knowingly transporting waste and depositing it at the industrial unit. It was ordered to pay fines and costs amounting to £6,500.

The men illegally deposited the waste at a unit on the Llay Industrial Estate, Wrexham Credit: Natural Resources Wales

David Powell, NRW Operations Manager for North East Wales, said: “This successful prosecution shows that NRW is serious in its aim to clamp down on illegal waste offences across Wales.

“Whether you’re the waste producer or carrier, everyone has a legal duty to check that the person or company taking and depositing the waste is registered on NRW’s public register. In this case, the landowner ended up paying for the waste to be removed.

He added: “The heat being produced by the waste meant there was a real risk of self-combustion and fire. Had officers not intervened when they did this could have ended in catastrophe for the surrounding area, local environment and the public.

“We would like to thank colleagues at North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service for their cooperation in this successful prosecution.”