Farmer must pay £89k for illegal waste dump

A Cornish farmer who ran an illegal waste site containing hazardous materials, including asbestos, has been ordered to pay £89,000 – or face prison.

Martin Harvey, of Shepherds Farm in St Newlyn East, appeared at Truro Crown Court on 3 October, where he pleaded guilty to four offences related to waste crime and unlawful land development.

The court heard Harvey ignored repeated warnings from the Environment Agency (EA), choosing instead to illegally deposit more than 10,000t of  household, demolition, and hazardous waste on his land.

See also: What to expect from an EA inspection on farm

He received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £16,653.99 within a year. He must repay the £72,500 profit from his illegal activity by 9 January 2026 – or serve three months in jail.

Harvey, who had no environmental permit or planning permission, filled in a wooded valley and watercourse with waste to create flat land for development.

Despite being repeatedly told by EA officers to stop the activity between February and July 2023, he continued to import and even burn waste once using a home-made incinerator.

At the time, Harvey claimed he was preparing the land for new agricultural buildings and believed he had registered the necessary exemptions.

He denied the presence of asbestos and downplayed the income from the waste operation.

‘Blight on the environment’

Speaking after sentencing, Sally Turberville of the EA said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending.

“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 to legitimate businesses.”

Anyone who suspects waste crime is urged to call the EA hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.