It has been reported that the 57 year old director of Robin Hood Environmental Ltd pleaded guilty to three charges, which related to the illegal dumping, keeping, and shredding of tyres. In court, he received a two year conditional discharge and has been ordered to pay £1,500.

Robin Hood Environmental Ltd owned and operated a waste disposal site at Oakfield Lane, Warsop. It was situated next to land owned by Nottinghamshire County Council which the defendant took possession of and used as a waste disposal site.

However, the land did not have a waste management licence and was in contravention of section 33 Environmental Protection Act 1990.

David Brown (Environment Agency’s investigation) said:

We have worked together with our partners in Mansfield District Council to show that neither organisation will allow companies to threaten the environment or place the public at risk.

Had this company still being in existence the penalties would have been far greater. Other companies and individuals should take careful note of this and follow the rules.

Regular inspections were carried between 2007-2008 to which he was informed of breaking regulations by storing tyres on unlicensed land and to remove them. It is reported that he believed he did own the land and did have a licence but the council claimed there was never any attempt to obtain a licence. The confusion was apparently caused due to misleading surveyor reports.

The 57 year old, named Edward O’Neill was estimated to have benefited by over £325,000 as a result of the illegal activities. The resulting court action was a lot less than he could have received solely down to the fact that the site caught fire and the business was no longer in existence.

Image credits go to sfrancisball from Flickr.