Skip boss fined for illegal waste site

Jun 6 2007

A MAN who admitted running an illegal waste transfer station in Birmingham has been fined £2,000.

James Blackham pleaded guilty to two charges relating to operating an illegal waste transfer station in Landor Street, Bordesley.

The charges were brought by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Protection Act (1990).

Environment officers visited the site of Skips 4U last November and carried out an inspection. The ground was littered with waste including soil, tree roots, bricks, electrical goods and a mattress, and full skips labelled Skips 4U contained rubble, carpet, plastic goods, wood and cardboard.

Blackham was interviewed by Environmental Agency officers, and confirmed that some of the waste on the site was his and that he was depositing full skips of waste at the site.

Birmingham magistrates also ordered Blackham to pay £900 costs.

Adrian Watkin, an Environment Agency officer, said: "By operating a waste transfer station without a waste management licence, James Blackham has operated at a commercial advantage over properly licensed operators, which will not be tolerated by the Environment Agency."