Man to pay £89k for running illegal waste site

The Environment Agency said it made a number of visits to the site

A man has been ordered to pay more than £89,000 for running an illegal waste site on his farm.

Martin Harvey, 64, of Shepherds Farm in St Newlyn East, had hazardous waste including asbestos on his land.

Harvey appeared before Truro Crown Court on 3 October and pleaded guilty to four offences, including disposing of waste such as asbestos which could cause pollution.

He was handed a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years, told to pay Environment Agency (EA) costs of £16,653 and to hand over £72,500 in illegal earnings.

The EA said it had given multiple warnings and formal notices served.

The court heard there was no environmental permit for the site which would allow the legal deposit of waste.

Harvey also deposited waste and filled in a wooded valley and a watercourse in order to create flattened areas on the land, which he then intended to develop.

There were no planning permissions in place for any construction for the waste importation.

Hazardous material such as white and blue asbestos was present at the site.

During Environment Agency inspections of the site from February to July 2023, Harvey was told he was operating illegally, had no planning permission for the development works and all waste importation should stop.

At a site inspection in April 2023 EA officers noted waste, including tyres, were being illegally burned in what appeared to be a homemade incinerator.

The EA said Harvey sent in three statements under caution.

Among them, he claimed he wished to build up the land for new agricultural buildings.

He also denied there was material containing asbestos on site and said he held an exemption which permitted him to burn waste.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Harvey was ordered to pay back £72,500 he made from operating his illegal waste business by 9 January 2026 or face three months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay the EA's full costs of £16,653.99 within one year.

'Blight on the environment'

Sally Turberville of the Environment Agency said waste criminals should be "aware how seriously we take their offending, including the financial benefit they obtain from their illegal activities".

"Offenders like Harvey simply won't get away with concealing information or their assets," she said.

"Waste crime can be a blight on the environment, communities and to legitimate businesses."