The owner of a recycling firm at the centre of a mattress mountain row has promised to take action.

Lewis Bertram has been served with an enforcement notice by the Environment Agency after piles of old material built up at his premises in Smarden.

Mr Bertram, who has run Eco-Matt.e.r.s for five years, said: “I am still talking with the Environment Agency and we are working to resolve any issues.

“I am aware of what I need to do with my business. We process 500 to 700 mattresses a week, employ three people and provide a service.”

Mr Bertram’s business has been based at Smarden Business Estate for two years.

He said he wanted to move from the village to a bigger site.

“It is common knowledge that I am moving in the future,” he said. “I want to move to somewhere more user-friendly.

“I have run the business successfully for five years, but have been affected by personal problems. Until the personal problems, I have never had any issue with the Environment Agency.”

Mr Bertram said that the pile of mattresses outside the business unit had been deconstructed and was in the final process of recycling. All cloths, foam and fabrics had been removed and baled ready for sale.

“I have operated within this sector of recycling for five years without any issues,” he said.

“At our normal rate, we have undertaken the dismantling of 500 to 700 mattresses a week in order to re-use raw materials and thus avoid landfill – there are upwards of eight million waste mattresses in the UK each year.

“I accept that no one really wishes for any recycling near to them, but most people would not agree with landfill.

“During my operation, we have recycled upwards of 130,000 waste mattresses. If these were illegally dumped, I think this would be very evident.”

Mr Bertram said he accepted that the site did not look good and the location was not best suited, which, along with a desire to expand, was why he was looking to move.

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