The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a Kent man for depositing and burning waste illegally multiple times.
Michael Shilling was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay £6,779 costs, a £190 victims’ surcharge and £11,086 compensation to Iron Mountain (UK) PLC, at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court.
The magistrate took into account his guilty plea during sentencing.
Shilling pleaded guilty to controlling, or being in a position to control the use of a Scania skip loader and also pleaded guilty to knowingly causing waste to be unlawfully deposited at Gills Terrace, Otterham Quay Lane in Rainham, Kent.
Matt Higginson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“This prosecution and the seizure and crushing of the vehicle shows that we will search out and prosecute anyone found to be dumping waste illegally.
“Illegally depositing waste without regard for the environment and the law has the potential to harm our natural resources.
“It is also a blight on communities and undermine the legitimate businesses that follow the rules. You won’t get away with it.
“We encourage everyone to check that their waste collector is registered as a waste carrier.”
On December 22, 2020, an Environment Agency officer was made aware that waste had been deposited at the land at Otterham Quay Lane.
On January 8, 2021, the officer received more information, including CCTV footage.
The footage showed that Shilling’s vehicle entered the site three times on the evening of December 14, 2020.
Employees of Iron Mountain (UK) reported the dumped waste, which was smouldering, when he arrived for work on December 15, 2020.
The waste found on site was shredded material comprising plastics, paper, mattress fabric and fibre.
An employee of Iron Mountain (UK) made a statement saying the waste was smouldering when he arrived at work at the site on December 15, 2020.
On February 25, 2021, an Environment Agency officer, accompanied by Kent Police, visited Raspberry Hill Park, near Iwade, Kent.
They located the lorry used on December 14 to deposit the waste. The Environment Agency and Kent Police seized and crushed the vehicle for alleged waste offences.
