A company director was given a 42-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for unlawfully disposing of waste and operating an illegal asbestos site.
Peter Marquis, director of PDM Industries, was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work for his involvement in the offences.
PDM Industries has been handed fines and costs totalling £60,046 after an Environment Agency investigation into operations at two sites in Preston.
PDM Industries Ltd disposed of controlled waste, specifically tyres, at Stanley Lodge Farm without obtaining the required environmental permits.
The Environment Agency instructed the company to transfer the waste to a legally permitted facility but Marquis instead illegally buried the waste tyres, violating environmental regulations.
Between 31 December 2016 and 15 February 2023, PDM Industries Ltd also operated a facility handling asbestos without authorisation by an environmental permit, violating environmental protection regulations.
Expert testimony provided by Gabriela Boca, an environmental specialist, highlighted the controls that should have been in place at the site dealing with asbestos.
The inadequate storage conditions posed significant environmental risks due to the improper containment of harmful asbestos fibres.
The Environment Agency said Marquis and PDM Industries Ltd acknowledged the offences and cooperated with the investigation.
The tyres were later removed from Stanley Lodge Farm, along with the asbestos waste from the yard next to Wards House Farm.
District Judge Goodwin concluded that both offences were committed with deliberate intent.
Shannon Nicholson, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency, commented: “The sentencing demonstrates the importance of following proper procedures, especially when dealing with hazardous materials like asbestos, which pose serious risks.
“This case highlights our commitment to holding those who violate environmental regulations accountable. Strict enforcement is essential to prevent harm to the environment.”
