A KINGSBURY man who ran a small illegal waste operation in Camden has been fined £2,000.
Noel O’Connor, 44, of Buck Lane, Kingsbury, admitted running the illegal waste operation, under the name of Cosmic Waste at land in Saint Augustine Road, without an environmental permit.
Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court ordered O’Connor to pay a fine of £2,000, court costs of £2,919 and a £15 victim surcharge on Thursday, March 14.
The court heard that O’Connor rented the site from Damsonetti UK Ltd in May 2011 and wanted to use the land for container storage.
However, Damsonetti UK Ltd became aware there was a problem a couple of months later and discovered O’Connor was using the site to recycle waste.
In June 2011, Camden Council received complaints from residents about the transfer of waste on to the site. Officers from the council visited the site on numerous occasions between July 2011 and March 2012 and saw a large banner advertising Cosmic Waste, a container and yard space to scrap metal on the Agar Grove frontage of the site.
They also noted piles of builders’ rubble, separated builders material and waste from household clearances.
Environment Agency officers visited the site in November 2011, together with representatives from the council, and saw waste plastic pots, builders’ rubble, wooden furniture, wood, carpet, toilets, plastic bags, cardboard, bikes, wooden pallets and cardboard boxes.
The officers told O’Connor he could not bring waste back to the site and deposit on the ground.
O’Connor was told he would need planning permission to use the site and was told to clear it, but carried on with his activities.
Damsonetti took the matter through the courts and regained possession in March 2012.
David Tower, Environment Agency environmental crime officer, said: “Mr O’Connor ran an illegal waste site in a residential area, which caused significant inconvenience and distress to those living close by, as well as undermining legitimate local businesses in the waste industry.
“This was a good example of how the Environment Agency works with local authorities and partner agencies to deal robustly with illegal waste sites. We are pleased with this case’s outcome, which we hope will discourage others from similar activities.”
