A man from Lancaster has been fined and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work for his part in the operation of an illegal waste site.
Stephen Bryce, 45, from Lancaster was sentenced at Preston Crown Court, and given a 12-month community order requiring 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £6,000 in costs, after being convicted of operating an unpermitted waste facility and submitting falsified consignment notes between January 2020 and October 2021.
The Environment Agency also secured convictions against Cats and Dust Limited, and its director Cavin Mears, for operating waste sites without the required environmental permits and for falsifying documents connected to hazardous waste disposal.
During the hearing, Cats and Dust Ltd was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £6,000 in costs. Cavin Mears, 45, from Euxton, Chorley received a 12-month community order requiring 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £5,360 in compensation to the Environment Agency, along with £6,000 in costs.
The court heard that Mears and Bryce were previously directors of RF Recycling Ltd, a company which operated a regulated facility without an environmental permit at Unit 6, Twin Lakes Industrial Estate, Croston, Lancashire between January 2020 and June 2020.
Following a visit from the Environment Agency in October 2021, RF Recycling ceased trading. However, Cats and Dust Ltd commenced trading immediately afterwards, operating unlawfully from a separate unit within the same trading estate until January 2022.
Cavin Mears, who was a director of RF Recycling Ltd, is the sole director of Cats and Dust Ltd. Stephen Bryce resigned as a director of Cats and Dust Ltd in September 2021, shortly before the company began trading.
During the sentencing, His Honour Judge Mathieson said both men had long experience in the waste industry, including work with hazardous materials, and therefore should have been fully aware of their legal responsibilities.
He described their conduct as reckless at the outset, but later deliberate and financially motivated, with falsified paperwork used to conceal their actions. He added that their disregard for regulations demonstrated that they “didn’t care about obligations and didn’t care about the impact on people, property or the environment.”
Shannon Nicholson, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency said: “This case shows that those who attempt to profit from waste crime will be held to account.
‘’Handling hazardous materials without the correct permits is a serious offence which can put communities and the environment at risk, while also undercutting legitimate businesses.
‘’By continuing operations despite warnings and by falsifying paperwork, these defendants demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law.”
Morecambe children's nursery announces plans to close during extreme heat
Lancaster MP responds to Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister
Carnforth High School praised as a "caring community" in Ofsted report
Body of man found in Lancaster park
LISTEN and PHOTOS: Armed Forces weekend will return after massive crowds enjoy biggest ever event
Morecambe MP says Sir Keir Starmer "has made right decision" as Prime Minister resigns
Limited edition artwork will raise vital funds for Lancaster community group
Green Heritage Plaque marks first home of Lancaster University
New home revealed for £20m Morecambe West End regeneration scheme
Wooden nests take flight in Lancaster and Morecambe to stop decline of endangered birds
Veterans salute as Armed Forces Day flag raised at start of celebration weekend in Morecambe
Vandals cause delays to aqueduct sinkhole repairs in Lancaster
Extra Care scheme to open in Lancaster
Three people taken to hospital after road traffic collision in Morecambe
Injured police officer speaks of anger after jailed man freed 16 days after sentence
Morecambe woman to brave the shave to help dogs stay with their families
M6 near Lancaster to close for resurfacing
Full line-up for biggest ever Armed Forces weekend in Morecambe
Lancaster District residents thanked for embracing food waste recycling
More gridlocks in Heysham as roundabout resurfacing works 'over-run'
