Environmental Update (October 2008)
Illegal burning cost company more than £5,000
Corby company B&M Pallets has been fined £4,000 and ordered
to pay £1,279 in costs for illegally burning waste at its site in
Geddington Road causing thick smoke, hot particles and odour.
Broken pallets were found burning on the ground by Environment
Agency officers alerted by a neighbouring business in January 2007.
When they visited the site, officers saw dark smoke coming from the
site and wood being burned on the ground.
Corby Magistrates' Court was told that the company had already
been formally warned in March 1999 and December 2006 about the
burning of waste.
Environment Agency prosecutor said B&M Pallets had already
been advised what constituted legal burning of waste and what was
illegal yet continued to illegally dispose of large quantities of
waste wood.
She said the neighbouring company had complained because of the
nuisance caused to them by the smoke, hot particles and odours
produced by the fires. Employees reported discomfort from the 'foul
and acrid' smoke which sometimes resulted in red and streaming
eyes.
B&M Pallets had no licence to dispose of waste and was not
exempt from having a licence to do so under Waste Management
Licensing Regulations (the legislation in place at the time of the
offence).
In order to be exempt, the company would need to comply with the
specific requirements of the exemption and also have needed to
ensure that waste is recovered and disposed of without endangering
human health and without using processes or methods which could
harm the environment, this includes causing nuisance through noise
or odours.
The company pleaded guilty to disposing of controlled waste by
burning contrary to s33(1) (b) and s33(6) Environmental Protection
Act 1990 when there was no Waste Management Licence in force
pursuant to Section 35 and 36 of the Environmental Protection Act
1990.