A WASTE management company was fined £10,000 for depositing potentially contaminated waste without a licence at a hearing in Newport magistrates court yesterday.

Thomas Waste Management (TWM) based on Old Abergavenny Road in Brynmawr, delivered 320 tonnes of uncrushed material to Penpergwm to create a new surface for a track access road on December 14, 2011, the court heard.

This uncrushed material which is cheaper than its ‘crushed’ counterpart, included non-inert materials which are those subject to change by decomposition or otherwise. These included textiles, chipboard, plastics and painted wood.

According to Natural Resources Wales, these non-inert materials pose a risk of contamination to soil, groundwater and water courses.

Gareth Thomas, 37, director of the company, appeared before Newport District judge Martin Brown on Thursday morning.

TWM were charged with a breach of the Environmental Protection Act for depositing of controlled waste on land without a licence.

TWM was sentenced alongside Gareth Hockey, 48, of Penpergwrn, Abergavenny, who owned the land the waste was deposited on and was charged with depositing controlled waste without an environmental permit.

The track provides access to Hockey’s garage, other businesses and nearby houses. Both parties agreed the material concerned was not hazardous and there was no evidence of harm to the environment.

Christopher Stables, for the prosecution, said: “This is a case about risk.”

The prosecution claimed it would have cost the company £7250 to take the material to landfill. Instead, they invoiced Hockey £1920 for delivering the material to him.

Representing TWM, Justin Taylor said: “This is not a company motivated by greed.”

Both defendants had pleaded guilty to the charges against them on the first day of trial on December 10.

In 2008, the company was fined £3,000 for a similar offence involving the disposal of controlled waste.

District Judge Martin Brown said: “There’s no doubt the company are responsible for ensuring what they do is within the law.”

TWM was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.

Hockey was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs.

On sentencing Hockey, Justice Brown said: “He was reliant upon what the company was delivering to him. Nonetheless, he is the landowner.”