Builder fined for dumping asbestos in public car park

A builder has been fined after admitting he dumped asbestos in a public car park.

Ashley Ciminera had been replacing the roof of Harvst at Teifi Warehouse in Cardigan, Wales, in June 2023 when the material was discarded.

“He dumped fragmented and broken corrugated asbestos roofing sheets into a car park that had open public access and was adjacent to a pavement,” Ceredigion County Council said.

“During the process of removing the sheets, fragmented parts had fallen and damaged cars parked below in the car park.”

Ciminera, 37, of Bryn Salem, Felinfach, Lampeter, Ceredigion, pleaded guilty to one offence under section 33(1a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to depositing the waste on council property without authorisation, the council said.

He also admitted breaching section 33(1c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to treating waste in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment or harm to human health due to the material being uncontained hazardous waste left in such close proximity to a public right of way.

Magistrates at Aberystwyth Justice Centre fined him £400 and ordered him to pay a £160 victim surcharge and £150 court costs.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion cabinet member responsible for public protection, said: “I am appalled by the brazen disregard shown to the general public by this offender.

“This case shows that anyone found mishandling hazardous waste will face strict penalties. This prosecution serves as a clear warning to all individuals and organisations that the careless or deliberate mismanagement of dangerous materials will not be tolerated.

“We remain committed to enforcing environmental regulations to protect public health and the environment.”