A man who illegally dumped tonnes of construction waste on public land in Adelaide has become the first in South Australia to be given a jail sentence for such an offence.

Gabriel Ivanyi, 40, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of illegal dumping and was sentence to jail for four months and two weeks by the Environment Resources and Development Court.

But Judge Jack Costello suspended the jail term, placing Ivanyi on a two-year good-behaviour bond.

Ivanyi was also ordered to pay more than $40,000 in compensation for the clean-up of the waste which included concrete slabs, soil and other material from building demolitions and construction sites.

The Environment Protection Authority said the penalty imposed was the first time illegal dumping had attracted a jail sentence.

Judge Costello said the offending took place from late 2012 to May 2013 and came at a time when Ivanyi was suffering financial issues, prompting him to avoid paying the usual dumping fees.

He said Ivanyi’a actions were planned and premeditated, occurred over and extended period of time and involved a large amount of material.

“It was deposited in circumstances which demonstrated little or no regard for the landowners or indeed the surrounding environment,” the judge said in his reasons.

“Unsurprisingly, the offences have caused considerable community concern.”

Judge Costello said the seriousness of the offending meant a jail term was warranted.