A THIRD conviction has been secured by the Environment Agency connected to a major illegal waste site in Kingsteignton.

Thousands of tonnes of waste including soil, stones and road planings had been dumped on a floodplain.

DTM Grab Hire Ltd has been ordered to pay £16,664 for its part in depositing the waste at the illegal site which was shut down by the Environment Agency in 2022.

The EA has now prosecuted the landowner of the site and two waste carriers as part of the investigation.

Plymouth Magistrates Court heard that DTM Grab Hire Ltd deposited 3,490 tonnes of soil, stones and road planings at the illegal site between January 3 2021 and September 11 2021.

Following the hearing, the company was fined £13,653, told to pay the Environment Agency’s costs of £2,821 and a victim surcharge, after pleading guilty to the illegal deposit of controlled waste.

The landowner of the site, Christopher Garrett, was prosecuted in 2024 after repeatedly ignoring warnings from the EA.

Another waste carrier, David Gorton, was fined last month for his contribution to the deposit of waste on the same site.

Thousands of tonnes of mixed construction and demolition waste was found at the premises.

It is estimated that remediation of the site, which is on a flood plain, would cost £2.5millon.

The deposits of waste would have significantly increased the flood risk in the area.

Registered waste carriers have a duty of care to ensure that they know where they are sending their waste and take steps to ensure that their waste is handled by legal sites.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: ‘We have now successfully prosecuted the landowner of this illegal site, plus two waste carriers who contributed to the deposit of soil and stone.

‘Waste regulations are in place to protect people and the environment, and it is essential that all companies follow the rules.

‘We will take enforcement action against anyone who transports, disposes or stores waste illegally.’

The latest prosecution comes as the Government announced major reforms to tighten the waste carriers regime including stricter background checks and tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.