Two prosecuted for running illegal waste tyre site

An investigation led by the Environment Agency (EA) revealed that Andrew Eyre and Nimesh Patel were running Synergy Tyres (Midland) at Broad March Industrial Estate without an environmental permit and that tyres were being stored in an unsafe manner.

The duo was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on 3 September 2024.

Timeline of investigation

Starting in February 2020, the EA made several visits to the site and found volumes of tires that exceeded legal limits. The investigation found the 40-tonne weekly limit for the storage or treatment of waste tyres was exceeded in 52 out of the 59 weeks analysed.

It also found shipping records that showed shipments of tyres to India that exceeded the legal limit.

The EA gave instructions on the actions required to meet environmental regulations, but after an inspection on 26 February 2021 it was clear that the site had not been brought into compliance.

Synergy Tyres had previously been fined and Eyre received a suspended sentence in January 2020 for operating the same waste tyre facility without an environmental permit.

As director of the company, Eyre was this week sentenced to 18 weeks of imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on the condition that he completes 30 days of Rehabilitation Activities.

Operations manager Patel was sentenced to 14 weeks of imprisonment, suspended for 12 months on the condition that he performs 80 hours of unpaid work.

The case has been adjourned for consideration of the recovery of the proceeds of crime, as well as recovery of the Environment Agency’s costs.

Yvonne Daly, environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Not only do we use environmental law to prosecute those who abuse the environment, but we also use the Proceeds of Crime legislation to ensure that criminals are deprived of the benefits of their illegal activity. We continue to use intelligence-led approaches to target the most serious crimes and evaluate which interventions are most effective.

“We support legitimate businesses, and we are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the criminal element backed up by the threat of tough enforcement as in this case.

“We would appeal to legitimate business to help us by report waste criminals, where they are aware of them.”