Shane Boutwell, 41, has been ordered to pay £85,000 after being jailed in August 2022 for importing and illegally burning waste at two sites in Essex.
Boutwell pleaded guilty to operating two waste management facilities without a permit and to disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health at both sites.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court on 2 August 2022 and issued with a Court Order to remove the waste at both sites upon his release.
After leaving prison, the Environment Agency says Boutwell started to remove the waste and restore the land at both Lower Burnham Road and Bradwell Wick. Agency officers monitored his progress during regular site visits, deploying an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, or drone).
Boutwell was then ordered back to court for consideration of claims for prosecution costs. He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 8 January 2024 and ordered to pay £85,000 in Environment Agency costs together with a victim surcharge of £156.
In June 2020, Environment Agency officers visited land at Bradwell Wick Leisure Plots Maldon Road, Bradwell-on-Sea after firefighters raised concerns following several fires at the site.
Officers found large quantities of waste on the site, including waste electricals, household waste, and demolition waste, as well as piles of burned waste. The Environment Agency says officers made several visits and attempted to work with Boutwell, offering him opportunities to stop his activities and clear the site.
In September 2020, officers attended another site owned by Boutwell at Lower Barn Farm, Lower Burnham Road, Latchingdon. They found piles of burning waste with flames up to two metres high and identified large piles of soils heavily contaminated with bricks, concrete, paving slabs and plastic, the Environment Agency says.
Essex Fire and Rescue attended and discovered a gas cylinder on the site before requesting fire engines to attend. They were told by a fire officer that the site was a “cause for concern”. Boutwell was told to stop burning waste at the site and advised all waste on site must be removed by a licenced waste carrier.
The Environment Agency is pleased that Mr Boutwell complied with his court order.
Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader Lesley Robertson commented: “The Environment Agency is pleased that Mr Boutwell complied with his court order. He has removed the waste he illegally imported to both Lower Burnham Road and Bradwell Wick.
“He operated at a commercial advantage, importing and burning waste on a significant scale. He undermined legitimate business with little or no regard for the environment or residents.”
