Man fined for burning dangerous waste
Peter Outlaw, 36, has been banned from dealing in most forms of waste after he burned rubbish and polluted neighbours.
Outlaw pleaded guilty to burning waste and running a waste site without a permit over a 17-month period at Bath Magistrates Court on October 27.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
Outlaw was told to complete 150 of unpaid community work and ordered to pay costs of £5,398. He was also banned from dealing in most forms of waste, except carrying metal to an authorised site, for 3 years.
The court heard that Outlaw would bring rubbish back to his premises at The Old Saw Mill, Garsdon, Malmesbury for sorting, then burn anything without value.
However, the smoke would affect nearby residents, forcing them to keep their windows closed during the summer. When confronted by the Environment Agency and advised to stop, he refused and continued burning.
Stephanie Marriott of the Environment Agency said:
Burning household rubbish is not acceptable. Setting waste alight can impact not just your health but also your neighbours and releases pollution into the air.
While we encourage people to change harmful business practices and do the right thing, we will prosecute if you continue to damage the environment and public health.
Why did it take the Environment Agency 17 months to get action.
When there is no safe level for air pollution this must have caused harm to those people exposed. What is to happen to them?