News
Environmental Update (May 2009)
In Court
Fine for waste storage breaches and rat infestation
During a visit to a waste transfer station in England, the
Environment Agency discovered a large number of rats running around
the site. The inspection also uncovered a number of permit
condition breaches.
Further checks revealed that the site accepted far more waste
than it was entitled to and this had caused handling and storage
problems. Although the site is limited in any one year to 5,000
tonnes, in 2007 they accepted nearly 13,500 tonnes.
The company in question was fined a total of £25,000 and ordered
to pay costs after it pleaded guilty to five offences under the
Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007. The offences included:
-
- depositing waste outside a permitted area;
- failure to maintain tipping bay walls;
- exceeding the tonnage limit;
- failing to control rat infestation; and
- allowing litter to escape from the site.
This is the second time the Company has been prosecuted by the
Environment Agency. In June 2008, they were ordered to pay £41,813
in fines and costs for operating an illegal waste transfer station
at a scrap yard in Warminster.