Successful prosecution after waste stored illegally at Sandycroft site

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has successfully prosecuted Endurmeta Ltd and its director for operating an unlawful waste site and failing to comply with a legal notice to clear waste.

At Mold Magistrates’ Court on 16th December 2025, the company and its director, Mr Ian Glasbrook, pleaded guilty to operating without an environmental permit and failing to comply with the notice.

Mr Glasbrook was fined £3,077, ordered to pay £7,687 in costs and a victim surcharge, and disqualified as a company director for three years from 29 April 2026.

A court-imposed remediation order requires both the company and the director to remove all remaining waste by 29 April 2026. Endurmeta Ltd was fined £3,350 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Between August 2023 and February 2025, Endurmeta Ltd ran a waste treatment operation at Deva Industrial Estate, Sandycroft. The company stored and treated waste including carpets, mattresses and printer cartridges under waste exemptions. These exemptions allow low-risk waste activities without a full environmental permit, but only if strict conditions are met.

NRW officers found the site was not secure and waste was being stored for too long, breaching the exemption conditions. As a result, the exemptions were cancelled and a legal notice under Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was issued, requiring the company to remove the waste. Endurmeta Ltd failed to comply, and most of the waste remains on site.

Carys Williams, Waste Regulation & Enforcement Team Leader for NRW, said:

“Complying with waste exemptions is essential to protect the environment and human health. These exemptions are designed for low-risk waste activities, but only when their conditions are met. Cutting corners undercuts legitimate businesses and increases environmental and public health risks. Our officers will continue to monitor the situation as the remaining waste is removed under the court order.”