Man fined for setting up own landfill sites

A man has been charged £40,000 for running his own illegal landfill sites in the West Midlands.

Last week, Ali Raza Baig was found guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court for operating illegal waste sites around Birmingham.

Investigations from the Environment Agency led to his prosecution after officers from the group visited one of his sites from May 2009 to August 2009 and found that he was storing various waste products there.

Two more sites were discovered by the agency, with officer Davie Thrussel saying this is a serious environmental crime.

"As well as the risk to the environment, by storing waste without suitable infrastructure in place, Mr Baig was cheating those skip companies who are working with the Environment Agency," he remarked.

This comes after Murfitts Industries pleaded not guilty to waste offences, including keeping, treating and disposing of waste in a way that could cause damage to the environment and reduce the area's air quality.

Ely Magistrates' Court decided to take the firm to trial at the Crown Court.

Posted by Joseph Hutton