A company that recycled wood has been fined, and its director banned from similar roles after investigators found it was storing nearly four times as much waste allowed by law.
In what the district judge called "blatantly criminal", the Environment Agency estimated Red Jon Ltd held 1,790 tonnes of wood at the site in Pyrton, near Watlington, whereas no more than 500 tonnes can be kept in one place in any 7-day period.
Oxford magistrates' court heard the mountains of wood posed a significant fire risk to the area, which included two schools, residential property, and a park.
Julia Leigh, senior environmental crime officer for the Environment Agency in Oxfordshire, said "waste crime can undermine legitimate businesses. The Environment Agency works closely with businesses to help them comply with the law. In cases like this, where individuals consistently operate illegally, we have no hesitation in prosecuting them, as we want to make sure waste crime doesn’t pay".
Red Jon Ltd was fined £15,000 and its director £860. Both were ordered to equally share costs of £28,000 and the director was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £86 and is now banned from being a company director.
