R v Coles (5 May 1999) Crown Court

United Kingdom

John and Georgina Coles operated a food collection business from their pig rearing farm. The pigs were fed waste food collected locally. Environment Agency officers had on several occasions told the couple that a waste management licence was required for waste disposal activities within the farm. The advice went unheeded and Environment Agency officers obtained a warrant to inspect the premises. The officers found commercial packaging waste, scrap metal and crates of commercial waste. The Environment Agency commenced proceedings against Mr and Mrs Coles and on 5 May 1999 Mr and Mrs Coles pleaded guilty to 5 offences of knowingly permitting the deposit of controlled waste on land and disposing of controlled waste by burning contrary to Section 33(1)(a) and (b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The couple were each given a nine month suspended prison sentence. (Environment Agency News Release, 5 May 1999)