A van used to dump cannabis farm waste in a Neath Valley forest has met a fitting end — in the jaws of a crusher.
The white Ford Transit tipper was forfeited to Neath Port Talbot Council by the court, and was destroyed on Wednesday.
It comes after five people were fined a combined £6,822 at Swansea Magistrates Court over the dumping of the waste on land at Rheola Forestry, near Resolven, owned by Natural Resources Wales.
Investigators were led to the culprits after correspondence was found within the dumped waste — with CCTV, witness accounts and what the council described as “extensive questioning” completing the case.
Keiron Powell, 29, and Darcy Thomas, 30, both of Greenwood Road, Neath, pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing controlled waste and transporting waste without a waste carrier’s licence, and were each ordered to pay £1,830.
Stephen John Powell, 54, also of Greenwood Road, admitted knowing his vehicle was being used to unlawfully deposit controlled waste, and was ordered to pay £812.
Ian Jenkins, 39, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care to ensure waste was disposed of lawfully, and was ordered to pay £944.
Anthony Jones, 32, of Wheatley Road, Neath, denied the charges but was found guilty at trial of failing to ensure the waste was disposed of lawfully — and was ordered to pay £1,406. Another man who stood trial alongside him was found not guilty.
All five were sentenced on 21 May, with the court ordering the tipper to be handed to the council.
Cllr Scott Jones, the council’s cabinet member for streetscene, said: “We have beautiful areas of forestry and countryside throughout the Neath Port Talbot county and people should be able to enjoy it responsibly without encountering dangerous deposits like this.
“We hope this sends a strong message that regardless of how minor you think your role is in the illegal disposal of waste, you will still be held responsible.”
James Roseblade, land management senior officer for Natural Resources Wales, said illegal waste disposal continued to be “a serious and unacceptable blight on our communities, our environment, and our economy”.
“Waste crime takes many forms, operating at different scales, and costs businesses, landowners and taxpayers millions of pounds each year. It also causes significant harm to the environment, human health and wildlife,” he said.
“We welcome the court’s decision in this case and hope it sends a clear message that waste-related crime will not be tolerated and will be punished — and Natural Resources Wales and its partners will continue to take appropriate enforcement action against those who break the law.”
Footage released by the council shows the bags being put out at the kerbside and loaded into the tipper — along with the waste in situ at Rheola Forestry, and the van’s final moments in the crusher.
