Foyle Recyclers, one of its directors and Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners were fined at Londonderry Crown Court on Tuesday (February 22).

The companies were found guilty of four breaches of waste management legislation.

The case was the subject of an investigation by officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The offences related to the operation of an unlicensed scrap yard at premises owned by Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners between November 2006 and November 2007.

The defendants were charged under the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (Northern Ireland) 1997.

Each party was made the subject of a Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Foyle Recyclers was fined for depositing, or knowingly causing or permitting waste to be deposited without a waste management licence.

The company was also found guilty, with its director and the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners of keeping, treating or disposing of waste without a waste licence.

This is the first confiscation order to have been obtained in the UK against a port authority.

Alison Brown

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