Without a permit, Mark Smith, 54, was bringing waste back to land called Heatherlands in Corfe Mullen where he was sorting through it for anything of value.

However, Environment Agency officers found the illegal waste site in April 2019 along with signs that rubbish was being buried and burned. Tradespeople were also spotted visiting the site to dump rubbish but quickly turned around when they saw the officers present.

Smith was warned that his operation was illegal and two months later a fire broke out, requiring the aid of the fire service.

During interview under caution, Smith claimed he had inherited 90% of the waste and didn’t know what he had been doing was illegal. He admitted he had broken up a number of refrigerators, which would have released harmful gases. But he denied burning rubbish, claiming he only burned green waste and that he suspected children of starting the fire in June 2019.

Bruce Maguire of the Environment Agency said:

It was disappointing to see tradespeople dumping waste here instead of paying to take it to a permitted site like a recycling centre.

Anyone employing a tradesperson for building, gardening or house clearance work has a duty of care to ensure that the person employed is an authorised waste carrier and will be taking any waste produced to a regulated facility.

This allows legitimate business to compete on equal terms as well as preventing significant harm to the environment.

Smith pleaded guilty to two charges of running a waste site without a permit and was fined £2,800 by Poole Magistrates Court on 3 November 2021 and ordered to pay costs of £700.

EDITOR’S NOTES

Smith pleaded guilty to one count of breaching regulations 12(1)(a)  and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 by operating a regulated facility, on land known as Heatherlands at Boundary Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset, in respect of which no environmental permit was in force, on and before 3 April 2019.

Smith pleaded guilty to one count of breaching regulations 12(1)(a)  and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 by operating a regulated facility, on land known as Heatherlands at Boundary Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset, in respect of which no environmental permit was in force, between 3 April and 5 June 2019.

• Guidance will reduce the environmental impact of the country’s largest property portfolio, the public estate

• Net Zero Estate Playbook will guide public sector organisations on how to reduce carbon emissions

• The public sector estate – including offices, hospitals, prisons and job centres – is working to a target of delivering a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035

A new guide to decarbonising public sector buildings and creating a net zero public estate has been launched by the Cabinet Office.

The Net Zero Estate Playbook will ensure consistent approaches, such as using solar panels, LED lighting and greener building materials, are applied across public buildings as they help decarbonise Britain’s largest property portfolio.

The UK was the first major country to legislate for net zero, and as the host of COP26 which concluded earlier this month has been leading the way in securing global action to tackle climate change. The guidance will make national infrastructure greener by giving departments, the public sector, and government property professionals clear guidance on the design, implementation, and monitoring of Net Zero strategies and delivery programmes.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said:

The public estate generates 2% of the UK’s total emissions. So decarbonising public buildings is absolutely crucial if we’re going to meet our environmental targets.

Property Professionals should use the Playbook to turn best-practice into standard-practice. It will put the public estate in a stronger position to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035, and fully net zero by 2050.

One example of a current site which follows the principles of the Playbook is the recently opened DWP hub in Tŷ Taf, Wales. The new site is leading the way in sustainability with energy efficient solar-powered technology. The site also has electric vehicle charging points for staff, putting it at the forefront of the UK Government’s commitment to using Ultra Low Emission transport.

The guidance, which will be applied to both existing and new properties, will also help the Department of Health and associated public bodies improve sustainability of their hospitals through the use of low carbon materials and improved understanding of a building’s environmental impact over its entire lifespan.

The Playbook can be used as a guide by anyone responsible for managing government property across the public sector.

The Net Zero Estate Playbook supports existing policies designed to drive the UK towards achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, including the 25-Year Environmental Plan, the Greening Government Commitments, and the Net Zero Strategy, which was published in October 2021.

This announcement comes after COP26 concluded with 197 Parties agreeing the Glasgow Climate Pact to urgently keep 1.5°C alive and finalise the outstanding elements of the Paris Agreement.

The pact will speed up the pace of climate action this decade, with all countries agreeing to return improved emissions targets in 2022, as well as doubling climate finance for action on adapting to climate change by 2025.

People living in social housing will be safer in their homes under new rules that will mean smoke alarms must be fitted in all rented accommodation, Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP announced today (23 November 2021).

Today’s announcement will mean housing providers are required by law to install smoke alarms in all social housing, and carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted in social and private rented properties with fixed appliances such as gas boilers or fires.

The regulation changes will also require:

• Carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when new appliances such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home.
• Landlords and housing providers in social and private rented sectors to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they are told they are faulty.

These reforms follow a commitment in the Social Housing White Paper published last year. The White Paper set out proposals for wide-ranging reforms of the social housing sector which will drive up standards, including giving tenants a clear way to raise concerns and providing the regulator with stronger powers to take enforcement action.

The cost of the new requirements to install and maintain alarms will fall to property owners.

Eddie Hughes MP, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, said:

It is fundamentally right for people to feel safe in their own homes – an issue I’ve advocated for many years.

Around 20 people are killed each year in accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more through house fires – but we know that simple interventions can stop these needless deaths.

I’m proud that the new rules being proposed will ensure even more homes are fitted with life-saving alarms. Whether you own your home, are privately renting or in social housing – everyone deserves to feel safe and this is an incredibly important step in protecting those at risk.

Jim Bywater, National Fire Chiefs Council, Domestic Detection Lead, said:

NFCC welcomes the changes which we believe will make many more people safer in their homes. We have campaigned for regulations to ensure that regardless of tenure, homes have adequate lifesaving detection.

The new regulations will contribute to reducing fire and carbon monoxide casualties and fatalities and bring consistency and greater protection to those living in both private and social rented homes.

Guidance relating to where alarms are fitted and to ensure alarms meet relevant standards will also be updated.

The reforms follow a 2-month consultation, and changes will be brought forward through the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and the statutory guidance (Approved Document J) supporting Part J of the Building Regulations.