A Whitehaven man has prosecuted for waste crimes.
Stephen Forrester, 32, of Windermere Road, was prosecuted by the Environment Agency for breaching a waste permit.
He appeared before magistrates and pleaded guilty.
Forrester, a former director of Whitehaven Skips & Services Ltd, which is no longer trading, failed to adhere to an environmental permit at its Cleator Moor site.
Environment Agency officers launched an investigation and, after several visits, served Whitehaven Skips & Services Ltd with an enforcement notice to reduce levels of waste at the site and store it safely.
Further visits revealed the enforcement notice had been ignored so the firm’s permit to operate was suspended.
However, Forrester continued to allow waste to be deposited and treated on site increasing the risk to the local environment.
Mr Forrester pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £95.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We welcome the result of this prosecution by the court for the offences committed by Mr Forrester, as director of former company, Whitehaven Skips & Services Ltd.
“Environment Agency permitting and licensing activities ensure businesses carry out their operations safely, while robust regulation provides the level playing field legitimate businesses need to prevent being undercut by irresponsible or illegal operators.
“In return, we expect businesses to take responsibility for their operations. We support businesses trying to do the right thing, only issuing enforcement notices and penalising businesses as a last resort.
“The Environment Agency will continue to work tirelessly to tackle environmental crime which can have a devastating impact on the environment and local community, and bring those responsible, like Mr Forrester to justice.
“We would encourage all companies to check their responsibilities and ensure they are legally complaint by visiting GOV.UK”
Environmental incidents can be reported to the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 807060 and waste crime can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555 111.
