A man who operated an illegal waste operation from a Cardiff industrial estate, which resulted in a major fire and pollution of a river, has been prosecuted. Luke George Martin, trading under LGM Recycle Waste Removal, admitted two waste offenses at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 31, 2024. The charges stemmed from Martin using rented garage and outdoor spaces on Ipswich Road to store and process waste without an environmental permit.
Natural Resources Wales, aided by PC Mark Powell, launched an investigation in October 2022 following reports of illegal waste activities at the site. Upon inspection, a significant amount of controlled waste, including household and construction waste, was found deposited on the land behind the industrial unit. Martin did not possess an environmental permit or waste exemptions for the operation.
In April 2023, Martin was issued a notice to remove the waste by May 30, 2023. However, on May 7, 2023, a fire broke out at the site, necessitating the intervention of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The firefighting efforts led to contaminated water from the fire entering the nearby Roath Brook, causing environmental damage.
As a result of his actions, Martin was sentenced to a 12-month community order, involving unpaid work, rehabilitation, and financial penalties. Eleanor Davies, Waste Regulation Team Leader at NRW, highlighted the risks and impacts of Martin’s illegal waste activities, emphasising the need to protect the environment, people, and economy of Wales.
This incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of illegal waste operations and the importance of complying with environmental regulations to safeguard communities and natural resources. Such actions not only endanger lives and property but also have a detrimental impact on the environment, emphasising the need for stringent enforcement and penalties to deter such activities in the future.