A Bermondsey man must do community service after being found guilty of running an illegal waste transfer station.
Abdul Monir, of Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey, has been sentenced to a community order of 250 hours of unpaid work over 18 months and ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to Network Rail by Bromley Magistrates Court.
Monir was found guilty on September 11 last year for running an illegal waste transfer station and depositing waste on land belonging to Network Rail.
On 29 October 2020, Network Rail reported that a large amount of waste was illegally deposited at Sittingbourne Station. CCTV from South-Eastern Trains showed that the waste was deposited a week earlier by a Volvo lorry.
In November 2020, Network Rail contacted the Environment Agency with CCTV footage of their land at Milton Court Road in London of the same Volvo lorry entering the site full of waste and shortly exiting without any waste.
Network Rail confirmed that the vehicle did not have permission to enter the site.
On 17 December 2020, Environment Agency officers visited Green Lane Recycling Ltd’s site at Manor Way Business Park, Swanscombe, whose sole Director was Mr Abdul Monir (51 of Southwark Park Estate).
During this visit, the officers found that the site was being used as an illegal waste transfer station under the control of Green Lane Recycling Ltd.
No permits or exemptions were in force that would allow the waste activities on site.
In January 2021, a PNC check revealed the vehicle used at Milton Court Road was in a traffic accident in December 2020, where the driver fled the scene.
The vehicle was recovered by Kent Police. An Environment Agency officer inspected the vehicle, finding a Hi-Viz jacket with Green Lane Recycling Ltd’s logo and markings on the roof of the cab that linked it to the waste deposited at Sittingbourne Station.
Data from The Motor Insurance Bureau confirmed that the Volvo lorry was insured to Green Lane Recycling Ltd.
Matt Higginson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“This was a deliberate breach of the law. This prosecution sends out a strong signal to others that we will continue to fight tirelessly to combat illegal waste crime and bring those responsible to justice.
“Businesses and householders also need to do everything possible to ensure that waste doesn’t end up in the hands of operators who break the law.”
He added that anyone seeking waste disposal services should check for registered carriers online at Waste carriers, brokers and dealers (data.gov.uk).
Environmental incidents can be reported to the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 807060, waste crime can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555111.