Illegal waste site operator in Sheffield sentenced
The operator of a regulated waste facility in Sheffield who did not have an environmental permit has been handed a 39-week suspended prison sentence.
The waste found at illegal site in Sheffield. Credit: Environment Agency
- Defendant operated a regulated waste facility without an environmental permit.
- Offender received a 39-week suspended prison sentence, 180 hours of unpaid work, victim surcharge of £187 and £2,000 contribution towards prosecution costs.
- Two co-defendants related to the case were sentenced on 15 April 2026.
- The site has now been cleared following Environment Agency action.
Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, Mohammed Tager, 38, of Verdon Street, Sheffield was sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 16 September. He had previously pleaded guilty to operating a regulated facility without an environmental permit.
The Court sentenced Mr Tager to 39 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months, also requiring him to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work during that time. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £187, and a £2,000 contribution towards prosecution costs.
Following two successful prosecutions of Tager’s co-defendants earlier this year, the illegal waste site at the Former Stanley Works in Rutland Road, Sheffield has now been fully cleared.
More waste found at the illegal Sheffield site. Credit: Environment Agency
Ben Hocking, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said:
We are glad to see Tager’s offending has been brought to justice. The case showed he had a total disregard for the law, the environment, and the local community.
He repeatedly ignored warnings and notices issued by our officers, who have worked incredibly hard to take action against him along with his co-defendants who were sentenced in April.
Following the sentencing of the co-defendants, we were pleased to see that the site has now been fully cleared.
This result shows that we’re cracking down on those flouting the regulations, and we will not hesitate to take action against those who breach the law.
Environment Agency regulatory action
The Environment Agency first visited the site on 7 July 2022 and found a large amount of mixed waste to be present. Further visits over the following months found more waste to have accumulated, including fridges and other electrical items and inert waste such as soil and stones, as well as evidence of burning.
The Environment Agency told the occupier he could not store waste without a permit, and on 10th October 2022, he was given six weeks to clear it.
In January 2023, officers inspected the site and found none of the waste had been cleared, and in fact new waste had accumulated. The Agency subsequently served a formal notice requiring the site to be cleared by 5 June 2023. The notice was not complied with.
The Environment Agency made more requests for waste to stop being brought on to the site and for it to be cleared.
In late 2024 and early 2025, complaints were received about the burning of waste, and the operator was advised by Sheffield City Council to cease burning, which was impacting on local residents.
The Environment Agency is stepping up its action on waste crime as part of its new 10 Point Plan - building on existing work and partnerships, the focused, sustained programme of action strengthens prevention, improves detection and delivers more consistent enforcement.
Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is asked to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline - 0800 807060 - or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
In August, Prime Minister Andy Burnham set out government plans to tackle waste crime
Background information
Two co-defendants related to the case were sentenced on 15 April 2026. The landowner, Concept Investments Limited, was fined £8,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £5,442. Austin Fitzgerald, a director of the company, was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 140 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay costs of £5,442 and a victim surcharge of £114.
The charges:
Between 6 July 2022 and 7 February 2024 at land known as the Former Stanley Works, Rutland Road, Sheffield, Mohammed Tager operated a regulated facility, namely a waste operation, other than under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit. Contrary to regulations 12(1), 38(1)(a) and 39(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Between 6 January 2025 and 23 April 2025 at land known as the Former Stanley Works, Rutland Road, Sheffield, Mohammed Tager operated a regulated facility, namely a waste operation, other than under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit. Contrary to regulations 12(1), 38(1)(a) and 39(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.