The company director of a Dukinfield-based waste firm has been given a suspended jail sentence by Tameside magistrates.

Ervan Connell was also stripped of his directorship and ordered to pay more than £8,000 in costs.

The director of CK Waste Ltd, based on Outram Road, appeared before the court charged with failing to comply with the requirements of an environmental permit between July 2, 2018 and June 6, 2019 and again on September 7, 2018.

The charges related to the illegal storage and treatment of approximately 6,000 cubic metres of waste, equivalent to roughly 12,000 standard 6x4 trailers.

The court heard the site failed to operate within their permit and managed waste without a set of procedures that identified and minimised risk of pollution and was therefore handling waste illegally.

Connell was also issued with an enforcement notice as excessive piled waste posed a serious fire risk after being stored for too long.

Following the issue of the enforcement notice, Connell failed to take steps to reduce the piled waste on site and failed to provide a fire prevention plan.

The Oldham man, of Kiln Lane, Chadderton, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge but later changed his plea to guilty.

Magistrates sentenced him to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and also banned him from acting as a company director for three years.

He was also ordered to pay £8,132 court costs and a victim surcharge of £115.

The case was successfully brought by The Environment Agency.

Following the case, an Environ- ment Agency spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency welcome the result of this prosecution for the offences committed by Mr Connell, director of CK Waste Limited.

“Mr Connell was offered extensive advice and guidance from Environment Agency officers but, despite this, failed to take steps to reduce piled waste at the site in Dukinfield.

“We all create waste, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our waste is handled correctly.

“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 by checking the online register Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers (data.gov.uk)”

To report an incident to the Environment Agency you can call 0800 80 70 60.