14.12.2008

In The Courts - Waste Offences

George Penfold, James Penfold and Josephine Pettigrove were fined a combined total of £78,000 with £26,976 costs for knowingly permitting the deposit and keeping of waste at an illegal site site in Woodside, Nickley Wood, Ashford in Kent.

George and James Penfold collected full skips and brought them back to land owned by Josephine Pettigrove. All three defendants were involved in the running of the skip business, organising the hire and collection of, and payment for skips. On numerous occasions, Environment Agency inspections revealed that there was mixed waste, including asbestos, being deposited and kept on the land even after verbal and written warnings.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency Environmental Crime team said:-

"Waste crime is big business. We will use all the powers at our disposal in order to tackle these unscrupulous operators who are not only harming the environment but undermining legitimate business."

"These waste-operators were fully aware that their activity was illegal. They have ignored all our warnings and continued to deposit and store waste which not only isn't licensed to be there, but carries a very high risk of environmental impact."

"We are committed to cleaning up the environment in Kent. We hope this sizeable fine sends a strong message to others profiting from illegal waste activity."