THE former director of a West Yorkshire waste disposal company escaped a prison sentence despite continuing to operate his business illegally.

David White, 37, of Grasscroft Road, Honley, used to run Direct Disposals (Waste Management) Ltd from a site at Black Rock Mills, Linthwaite.

Bradford Crown Court heard he accepted waste which had cancer- causing ingredients, which was flammable and which was severely corrosive.

The court was told the business went bankrupt after covert surveillance by the Environment Agency.

Back in 1999 the company submitted an application to the agency for a licence to set up as a waste transfer station, but after concerns about pollution risks it was eventually turned down.

In January 2001, White was formally told about the decision and warned all waste operations on the site had to cease and any special or hazardous waste had to be removed.

Prosecutor Tahir Khan said by September 2001 it was clear the site was still operating and the company was given a month to cease trading.

A covert surveillance operation was undertaken by Environment Agency officers the following month and during that time lorries were seen delivering waste chemical drums, lead acid vehicle batteries and tyres to the site.

When the site was formally searched a week later, officers found an estimated 5,000 tyres despite a limit of only 1,000. Chemicals were also found, including industrial waste such as sulphuric acid, solvents, and anti-freeze.

White admitted last month various offences brought under the Environmental Protection Act relating to the keeping and depositing of controlled waste on the site without a licence.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to complete documentation required under the Special Waste Regulations.

Mr Khan said by operating the site illegally White avoided paying thousands of pounds in licences and fees.

White's barrister John Harrison said that at the time White was involved in on-going discussions with the agency about complying with the legislation, but he accepted he should not have carried on trading.

White was warned last month that he could have faced a prison sentence, but Recorder Andrew Kershaw ordered him to do 240 hours community service.

He will also have to pay £1,000 towards the prosecution costs, which totalled more than £16,000.

Recorder Kershaw said he was satisfied White knew he would be breaking the law by continuing to operate the site and that in doing so he was causing a risk to human health and the environment.

"Your tyre pile grew bigger. You were accepting waste such as engine oil, anti-freeze, diesel oil and sulphuric acid. Those items of waste contained carcinogens, had low flash points and they were severely corrosive," he said.