A WASTE collector who dumped 900 tonnes of stinking toxic waste in an industrial unit has been given a suspended jail term and fined £2,677.
Inspectors found an entire warehouse at Barleyfields Industrial Estate in Brynmawr filled with mixed textiles and plastics in the form of baby wipes, sanitary products and shredded mattresses with wire contamination in 2018.
Newport magistrates heard Daniel Tamplin was ordered to remove the waste, but it remained there for three years, as he continued using the site as a dumping ground, letting it become a magnet for pests while releasing noxious fumes into the air.
The 36-year-old, of Union Road, Solihull, whose company Redthorne Realisations Limited was officially wound up last month, admitted three charges of illegal waste dumping.
He was given three 12-month concurrent jail terms suspended for 12 months and also ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work.
A Natural Resources Wales spokesperson said: “Our officers first attended the site in 2018, following concerns of off-gassing and leachate, which is formed when rainwater collects in decomposing waste
“A further inspection revealed an entire unit full of mixed textiles and plastics in the form of baby wipes, sanitary products and shredded mattresses with wire contamination.
“An enforcement notice was served to Mr Tamplin under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to remove all waste on site, with which he failed to comply.
“Whilst the waste remained on site, the leachate from decomposing materials and hydrogen sulphide gas was considered of high risk to the environment and caused pest issues both inside and outside of the building.”
Tamplin admitted depositing controlled waste otherwise than in accordance with a license; treating, keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment or harm to human health; and operating, causing or permitting the operation of a regulated facility otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit.
Redthorne Realisations Limited was subject to a compulsory winding up order in May 2018 after the Financial Conduct Authority had warned consumers that it was an unauthorised firm thought to be offering financial services or products, and people should be wary of dealing with them.
The company was officially dissolved on December 20, 2021.
NRW Enforcement Officer Mark Scaife said after Tamplin’s sentencing: “Waste crime not only has a negative impact on the environment and wildlife, it can also impact people’s health and local communities and is costly to clear up.
“I hope this result sends a message to all those involved in the illegal storing and depositing of waste that we take this activity extremely seriously, and we will always take the appropriate steps to protect our natural resources and the communities which we serve.
“Anybody who suspects illegal waste activity in their area can report it to our incident communications centre on 0300 065 3000.”
However, several people responded to NRW’s post by saying the sentence was too lenient, one labelling it a “joke”.
Another said: “Accidentally drop a receipt while getting keys out of your pocket - £80 fine.
“Fill a warehouse with hundreds of tonnes of contaminated, hazardous waste, while making hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process, get a measly £2,600 fine.”
One poster claimed “the punishment does not fit the crime”, while another labelled it “a “travesty of justice”.