A company and its director was ordered to pay over 15,000 GBP in fines and costs for the illegal keeping and treating of thousands of tonnes of waste.

Frederick Arthur Hibbett, company director of Hibbett Building & Joinery Contractors Limited, pleaded guilty to one charge against himself and one charge on behalf of the company.

The charges were brought by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007.

Newark Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Hibbett admitted to dumping and keeping waste on Hopyard Farm, Wood Lane, Kersall, Nottinghamshire, for 20 years without a Waste Management Licence, Environmental Permit or Exemption.

For the Environment Agency, Sheila Lodhi told the court that on 14 April 2008 the Environment Agency received notification from Newark and Sherwood District Council that large quantities of waste had been dumped on land off Wood Lane, Kersall. On inspection by environment officers the waste consisted of builders rubble, soil, plastic, smouldering green waste and furniture remains. Officers returned to the site on 23 May 2008 and observed similar waste.

On a third visit to the site, on 26 June, Mr Hibbett introduced himself as the land owner to environment officers. They witnessed several men burning and sorting waste. Mr Hibbett claimed the material was for use on his farm and had been imported via his company Hibbett Building & Joinery Constructors Limited.

Mr Hibbett, in several interviews under caution admitted that he did not hold a Waste Management Licence, Environmental Permit or any Exemptions to keep or treat waste. He claimed that the waste was to be used for repairing and extending the surface of Wood Lane.

Speaking after the case an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation said: “In order to protect the environment and ensure the correct disposal of waste, companies handling, depositing and storing waste must have in place an Environmental Permit or Waste Management Licence. By not complying with regulations, companies are acting illegally, they risk damaging the local environment, and are undercutting legitimate businesses.”

Mr Hibbett has now applied and been granted an Exemption on 28 May 2009. However, at the time of the offence there was no Permit or Exemption in place.

In mitigation, Mr Hibbett's solicitor stated that he did not know he required a permit and that he regarded his environmental duties seriously.