On 1 October 2007, William Noonan, aged 37 of Dulwich Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty at Hereford Crown Court to three charges relating to breach's of a Waste Management Licence .
The charges were brought by the Environment Agency under Section 33 and Section 157 of the Environmental Protection Act 1991. William Noonan was fined £2000 and ordered to pay costs of £2219.54. He was also disqualified from being a director for seven years.
For the Environment Agency, Counsel Kevin Saunders told the court that that a waste transfer station was operated at Cinetic Sand Quarry, Bromsgrove, the licence for which was held by J & B Williams Brothers Limited. William Noonan was responsible for the day to day management of the site.
The waste transfer station was licensed to accept certain quantities and types of waste. On 1 March 2005 and 31 May 2005, William Noonan's company breached their licence condition by exceeding the permitted 150 tonnes of waste stored.
As part of their licence, they were not allowed to have asbestos at the site. However, on 12 May 2005 asbestos was found, breaching their licence again.
Environment Agency officers interviewed Mr Noonan where he said that they had been receiving too much waste and had trouble getting rid of it because of financial difficulties.
Speaking after the case, Terry Broadbent, an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation said: "William Noonan deliberately disregarded his waste management licence by storing more waste than allowed and by storing asbestos. Storing asbestos without a licence was a reckless act that put both staff and the environment in danger. We are pleased with the court's outcome and will not hesitate to take action against others who deliberately break the rules."