Martin Harvey must repay £72,500 or face three months in prison after dumping 10,000 tonnes of household, demolition and hazardous waste, including asbestos, on his land in Cornwall.
He was prosecuted by the Environment Agency after he ignored warnings about his illegal business and plans to unlawfully develop his land.
Harvey, who operated the illegal site on land he owned in Cornwall, appeared before Truro Crown Court in October. He pleaded guilty to four offences and received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Harvey was ordered to pay back £72,500 he made from operating his illegal waste business by 9 January 2026 or face three months in prison. He was also ordered to pay the full costs of £16,653.99 within one year.
The court heard there was no Environmental Permit for the site, which would allow the legal deposit of waste.
Harvey also deposited waste and filled in a wooded valley and a watercourse to create flattened areas on the land, which he intended to develop. There was no planning permission in place for any construction necessitating the waste importation.
The Environment Agency said officers regularly inspected the site between February and July 2023. Harvey was advised that he was operating illegally, had no planning permission for the development works and that all waste importation should cease immediately.
Commenting on the case, Sally Turberville of the Environment Agency said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the financial benefit they obtain from their illegal activities.”
“Offenders like Harvey simply won’t get away with concealing information or their assets. Waste crime can be a blight on the environment, communities and legitimate businesses.”