A father and son have been given suspended prison sentences for illegally importing, processing and burning waste at two sites in Derbyshire.
Keith Mrvik, 63, and his son Leon Mrvik, 37, burned waste on the sites despite not having an Environmental Permit to do so.
Keith Mrvik was sentenced to 55 and 45 weeks in prison to run concurrently, suspended for 22 months, and ordered to do 140 hours of unpaid work.
His son Leon was sentenced to 58 and 45 weeks in prison to run concurrently, suspended for 22 months. He was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
The father and son, at the time of the offending, were involved in skip hire, waste transfer and scrap metal through KLM Skip Hire, and owned both properties where the illegal activity took place.
As part of the investigation into the Mrviks, the Environment Agency said it flew a drone over Draycott House Farm, but was forced to abort the flight after gunshots were fired at the drone.
At Draycott House Farm, Environment Agency officers found evidence that waste material was being imported and stored on site, including hardcore, bricks and concrete, as well as some sheets of asbestos cement.
Skips on the site had mixed waste containing pallets, cardboard builder’s sacks, other mixed household items, and yellow biohazard bags full of waste.
The Environment Agency said officers found a large bonfire with milk bottles, bricks, metal pipes, tin cans, and bed springs. There were also large builders’ bags of waste wires and a pile of ‘at least ten’ metal sinks around the site.
When officers attended Ayreshire Fields Farm, the Environment Agency said they observed mixed waste being stored in skips bearing the name KLM containing mixtures of garden, construction and household waste.
A large pile of household waste had also been stacked up in a ‘bonfire’. This waste included mattresses, boxes, furniture, plant pots, children’s toys, lampshades and several other items.
The Environment Agency said there was a large pile of ashes next to this waste, and within the ashes were the remains of a fan, cups, tin cans, melted plastic and bed springs.
Commenting on the sentencing, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency takes its responsibility to protect people and the environment seriously.”
“These sites posed a significant environmental threat due to the high risk of fire and potentially significant impact to local communities and amenities.”