GF Bisset (Inverbervie) Ltd was fined £3,750 for burning waste including metals, paint cans, wood and plastics left over from sites it had been working on.

The case was heard on Wednesday, June 29 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court after being brought by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

An estimated 50 tonnes of waste was burnt in the first incident which took place on 30 January 2004 when the fire brigade were called out to a former textile mill in Gourdon, Aberdeenshire.

The second offence occurred at the same site and came to light less than two months later on 8 March.

In August 2003, the company was fined £1000 at the same court after admitting illegally burning similar types of waste, also at a Gourdon building site.

SEPA officer Janet Thomson said: “Burning waste puts both the environment and members of the public at risk.

“That’s why it is illegal.

“SEPA will not condone this and we will continue to crack down on businesses who take short-cuts around legislation which protects our environment.”

By Sam Bond

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