Philip Johnston of Cules, in County Fermanagh, had previously been convicted on two charges relating to waste legislation and was fined a total of £10,000 (Euro 13,392).

Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) officers originally investigated Mr Johnston’s farm in 2004.

They discovered an estimated 1,900 tonnes of municipal-type waste buried under pastures to the rear of the farmyard.

The waste included a mixture of biodegradable wastes, including food packaging, plastics, papers & low-grade medical waste.

Mr Johnston claimed that waste paper was brought on to the farm to provide bedding for livestock quarantined as the result of a brucellosis outbreak.

Recently, Irish Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, said that the Government had signed the EU’s Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007.

He said that this would force businesses to do more to recycle waste packaging.

James Cooper

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe