We note that Natural Resources Wales, have successfully prosecuted a case involving illegal waste operation in South West Wales. James Anthony Gunter admitted the offences of operating an illegal waste facility and disposing of waste at the facility in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment and human health.
Gunter had been running a household clearance and rubbish removal business and had been receiving money from customers then taking their waste to a site in Brynamman, Ammanford to illegally dispose of the waste. NRW’s enforcement team and officers from Dyfed-Powys Police conducted a joint operation and investigation. On 31st July Gunter was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Courts to 12 months’ community service consisting of 200 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £6,709 and a victim surcharge of £85.
The maximum fine for environmental offences is unlimited and custodial sentences can be up to 5 years for environmental offences. In this case, it appears that Gunter deliberately carried out an illegal waste operation (storage and burning of waste) and is arguably fortunate to have avoided a custodial sentence.