Hull City Council has successfully taken legal action against a registered waste carrier for burning waste and fly-tipping mattresses.
On Friday 5 December 2025, Mr Andrew Pearson, trading as Kingston Clearances of Paragon Street, Hull, appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to multiple offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
These offences were as follows:
- Unlawful treatment of waste by burning it in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
- Unlawful deposit of wastes, by fly-tipping two mattresses.
- Failure to produce controlled wastes transfer notes.
The offences occurred between January and May 2025 and were first reported after complaints of dark smoke from fires affecting the public.
Investigations revealed waste was being unlawfully burnt without an environmental permit at the former Darleys pub site. Mr Pearson had a registered waste carrier licence, but that licence did not allow him to burn waste.
Evidence was obtained through CCTV footage, which identified the vehicles and individuals involved.
Enforcement officers inspected the site and found evidence of waste that had been transferred from domestic properties within the burnt waste. In response, the council served a planning enforcement notice requiring the land to be cleared and all unlawful activity to cease.
The works required under the planning enforcement notice was complied with and the planning case was closed in May 2025.
However, Mr Pearson did not provide waste transfer notes to the council when requested to do so. A business that produces, disposes or arranges the transfer of waste has a legal duty to supply such notes to the council when requested to provide them.
Further CCTV evidence linked him to fly-tipping two mattresses on Grafton Street, which the council later removed at a cost to taxpayers.
In response, the council referred the case for prosecution. Subsequently, Mr Pearson was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,525, as well as obtaining a criminal record.
Councillor Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment, said: “Despite being a registered waste carrier, Mr Pearson operated outside the permissions granted to him. He failed to comply with legal requirements, unlawfully burned waste, and fly-tipped.
“This prosecution shows that we will take firm action against anyone who commits environmental offences relating to the disposal of waste.”
To find out more information about how to lawfully dispose of waste, visit Bins and recycling – Hull