EA gets tough on tippers

The Environment Agency has won two court cases against those who breached Waste Management Licences in Derbyshire.


Buxton magistrates fined Corbuild Ltd £5,000 and ordered the company to pay costs of £1,174 after it failed to comply with conditions on a licence for a waste transfer site in Fairfield.

In December officers from the EA inspecting the site found that a containment net and drainage works required by the licence were not in place, despite the fact a notice had been served on the company to carry out the work over two months before.

In mitigation, Corbuild’s Neil Bolton said that it had needed to remove the waste to rebuild a wall, but their normal tip was closed down, delaying the work.

The company has since spent £30,000 in building works, And Mr Bolton said as a small company a large fine might well put them out of business.

Speaking after the case, Geoff Craig, an Environment Agency team leader involved in the investigation, said: “A Waste Management Licence contains strict criteria which must be followed at all times in order to protect the environment and reduce the impact operations may have on those neighbouring the site.

“Any failure to meet these conditions is irresponsible, anti-social and illegal and we will not hesitate to take action when it takes place.”

In a separate case Chesterfield magistrates fined John Graham, of Sprink, Hartington, Buxton, £5,000 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of dumping.
Mr Graham was also ordered to pay costs of £1015.

The court heard how on 3 June, 2004 an Environment Agency officer was called out to a field in Brassington, Derbyshire by a concerned member of the public.

There he found construction waste including soil, concrete, stone, brick, wood and metal dumped in an area of the field where it sloped towards a ditch and a small brook.

Speaking after the case, Edward Morris, an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation, said: “This case shows people and businesses have a responsibility to dispose of their waste properly at a licensed site.

“Illegal deposits of waste impact on both the environment and the quality of life of people nearby and we will not tolerate it.”

In mitigation the court took into account his guilty plea and noted that the site had been cleared.

By Sam Bond

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