Woman fined after failing to rid of piles of rubbish on Staffordshire land

Environment Agency (EA) officers visited the address being rented by Lissa Appleby at Mill Farm in Cappers Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, on October 13, 2023, following calls from members of the public regarding waste issues. 

The address consisted of a home, large grounds and a barn.

Officers discovered a large pile of shredded waste including pieces of plastics, wood and cardboard strewn across the driveway, the EA said.

Near to the barn was a pile of construction and demolition waste. A compact heavy loader was also on the site being used to move the waste.

Inside the barn "several hundred tonnes" of dry shredded waste was discovered by officers, containing plastic sheeting, plastic textiles, metals, wood and cardboard.

Following a period of rainfall, Appleby was initially requested to move the waste from outside to inside the barn area as a temporary measure. 

The EA said she was also given guidance that an environmental permit would be required for the activities carried out, or for the waste to be removed by a person who held the correct waste carriers’ licence.

The EA issued a letter to immediately cease activities at the property, believing she was operating an illegal waste site.

Officers visited the site again on October 26, 2023, and found the waste remained. Some had been put inside the barn, but a large pile was discovered outside.

Appleby allegedly claimed she could not afford to clear the site.

Officers served a notice on her, instructing her to remove all the waste on site by January 3, 2024.

They visited the site a week later on January 10 and found the waste remained.

On January 31, 2024, Appleby vacated the property, informing the letting agents she would clear all the waste within a two-week period, the EA added.

But in February 2024, another visit by the EA confirmed that all the original waste remained on site, plus additional waste had been deposited within the barn.

At Cannock Magistrates Court on March 4 this year, Appleby, of Nankirks Lane, Anslow, near Burton-upon-Trent, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with requirement of notice.

She was fined £550 and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £220.

A spokesperson for the EA said: “This site posed a significant environmental threat due to the high risk of fire and potential impact to local communities and amenities.

“As a regulator, the EA will not hesitate to pursue people that fail to meet their obligations. 

“Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment, harm human health and undermine local legitimate waste companies.  

“If anyone is suspicious of waste activities they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.”