Cornish Farmer Faces £89,000 Bill After Asbestos-Laced Waste Scandal

A Cornish farmer has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay more than £89,000 for operating an illegal waste site, after 10,000 tonnes of building rubble—including hazardous asbestos—were dumped on his land near St Newlyn East. The case has sent a clear message about the serious consequences of environmental offences in rural communities.

Key Takeaways

• Farmer Martin Harvey fined over £89,000 after hazardous waste, including asbestos, was found dumped on farmland.
• The Environment Agency issued multiple warnings before legal action was taken.
• Harvey’s actions included illegal land development without planning permission or environmental permits.
• Judge highlighted the risks of asbestos and handed down a suspended prison sentence.

Illegal Waste Operation Uncovered

Martin Harvey, aged 64, found himself before Truro Crown Court after investigators discovered he had allowed the unauthorised dumping of controlled waste on his farm. The material, which included both white and blue asbestos, had accumulated over several months as Harvey sought to level the ground for a potential new shooting range and future agricultural buildings.

Despite receiving warnings and formal inspection notices from the Environment Agency throughout 2022 and 2023, Harvey continued to permit haulage firms to bring in building waste, while lacking the required environmental permits or planning consents.

Serious Environmental and Health Risks

The illegal dumping led to significant contamination of both land and watercourses. Asbestos, a material once commonly used in construction, is now widely recognised for its potentially fatal health risks. The court heard that burning of waste, including tyres, had also taken place on-site, further harming the environment.

Environment Agency inspectors flagged these breaches, emphasising that such criminal acts threaten the health of communities, pollute the countryside, and undermine responsible local businesses.

Sentencing and Financial Penalties

Judge Simon Carr described Harvey’s actions as “reckless” but acknowledged his previous reputation as a conscientious farmer. While accepting that Harvey may not have known the true contents of the waste, Judge Carr said that allowing vast quantities of building rubble exposed the farm and its surrounds to serious danger.

The sentence comprised a three-month prison term, suspended for two years, alongside orders to pay £72,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act for financial gain from the offences, and a further £16,653 for the Environment Agency’s prosecution costs. Harvey was also required to undertake costly specialist clean-up operations, with the judge remarking these penalties could force the sale of farm assets if not met.

Broader Lessons for Rural Businesses

This case highlights the importance of strict environmental compliance and the risks rural businesses take when bypassing regulations in pursuit of diversification. The Environment Agency has reaffirmed its commitment to tracking and prosecuting waste crime, warning that financial benefit from illegal activities will not be tolerated.

The outcome serves as a stark reminder to all in the agricultural sector: shortcuts in managing waste can have dire consequences for both landowners and the wider community.

References

• Cornwall farmer in court for asbestos rubble dumped on land, Falmouth Packet.
• Man from Cornwall must pay £89,000 for running illegal waste site, BBC.