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Thurso man ordered to pay more than £12,000 penalty for illegal waste dumping

James Beresford was issued with the Variable Monetary Penalty (VMP) following an investigation by SEPA into reports that he deposited waste on land without the authority of a waste management licence. 

Members of the public reported seeing Mr Beresford regularly dumping waste on the land between March 2020 and May 2021. SEPA officers were able to identify several other individuals from documents found in the waste deposits and confirmed that they had paid Mr Beresford to uplift and dispose of their waste. The waste included household black bags, furniture, white goods, plasterboard, insulation, carpets, doors, tyres, asbestos sheeting and garden waste. Vehicles were regularly seen arriving heavily laden with waste and leaving empty.  

The landowner confirmed that no permission had been given for waste to be deposited on the land, and when SEPA officers visited in April 2021 the waste was still in place. Mr Beresford was invited to attend an interview under caution in May 2024 but did not respond. 

SEPA’s scientific assessment concluded that the waste posed a risk of harm to the environment, including potential impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, groundwater and the local burn. The waste is still present. 

In addition to the £12,327.08 penalty, SEPA are recovering investigation costs of £3,698.12.  

Stuart Baird, Senior Manager at SEPA, said: 

“Dumping controlled waste illegally is a serious offence. It can cause significant harm to Scotland’s environment, communities and wildlife, particularly when hazardous materials such as asbestos are involved. 

“This penalty demonstrates that SEPA will use its enforcement powers to hold individuals and companies to account. We encourage everyone arranging waste disposal to check that they are using a registered waste carrier and that waste goes to an authorised site. Doing so protects our environment and helps avoid the financial and reputational risks of breaking the law.” 

Protect yourself from waste criminals

SEPA are reminding the public to take care when arranging waste collection. Giving waste to unregistered operators can lead to it being deposited illegally, causing harm to the environment. In addition, if waste is traced back the original owner can also face enforcement action. 

There are several tell-tale signs that a business offering waste collection may not be legitimate: 

• Too cheap / too fast: online adverts promising “same-day” or very low-cost collection. 
• Pressure tactics: pushing you to decide immediately. 
• False claims: saying they are “SEPA insured” (SEPA does not provide insurance). 
• Vague recycling promises: “everything is recycled” without saying where it actually goes. 
• No contact details: only offering direct messaging, no business address or landline. 

You can play your part by: 

• Always asking for a waste carrier number and checking it on SEPA’s register. 
• Confirming where your waste will go. 
• Paying a fair price for the service. 
• Contacting SEPA if you can’t verify a licence number or if something feels suspicious. 

If in doubt, don’t hand over your waste. Suspected illegal operators can be reported through SEPA’s online reporting form at sepa.org.uk/report or via the 24-hour Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60. 

   

Civil penalties

VMPs are discretionary financial penalties which SEPA can impose for a relevant offence following an appropriate investigation. They sit alongside other enforcement tools available to SEPA staff, including advice and guidance, final warning letters, statutory enforcement notices, other civil penalties, including Fixed Monetary Penalties (FMPs) and reports to the Procurator Fiscal. 

SEPA’s enforcement action is designed to secure compliance with regulatory requirements, protecting and improving the environment. It aims to bring activity under regulatory control, stop offending, stop harm and/or reduce the risk of harm arising from non-compliance. It is also designed to ensure restoration or remediation of harm caused by regulatory non-compliance where appropriate. 

Notes to editor

Variable Monetary Penalties  

Information on Variable Monetary Penalties imposed is available on SEPA’s website at Penalties imposed and undertakings accepted, along with details of Fixed Monetary Penalties (FMPs) and Enforcement Undertakings accepted. 

Information on how a VMP is calculated is available on SEPA’s website. 

Don’t give your waste to criminals 

Check 

• Use the waste carrier licence number to check the company is registered with SEPA. 
• You can also contact SEPA to check a Waste Carrier Licence number you have been given if you cannot find it online. 
• Remember companies that operate in different parts of the UK may be registered with the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales. 
• A registration with SEPA, the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales is valid in any of these three countries. Your carrier will tell you where they are registered. 

Report 

• Report fly-tipping to your local authority.