Natural Resources Wales uses civil sanction powers following river pollution incident
Natural Resources Wales has used an innovative approach to dealing with a company which polluted the River Taff.
In January and September 2013, waste from the PB Gelatins site in Treforest found its way into the river unintentionally. Although no fish were killed, the pollution killed insects which are an important food source for fish.
Rather than prosecute the company, the regulator accepted an offer by the company to use civil sanctions. In return the company paid £20,000 to Gwyl Taf, a local project run by the South East Wales Rivers Trust. The company also agreed to reimburse NRW’s costs in relation to the investigation.
This is the fourth occasion where Natural Resources Wales has used its civil sanction powers.
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Last January, the Authentic Curry Company made a donation of £3,356 to Brecknock Wildlife Trust in relation to packaging waste offences.
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In 2013, John Liscombe Ltd made a donation of £9,000 to the Gwent Wildlife Trust in relation to packaging waste offences and
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In May 2013, William Ernest Lloyd Harries donated £2,000 to Keep Wales Tidy in relation to fisheries offences.
Enforcement notice issued in response to a fire in Cambridgeshire
On 17 December 2014 the Environment Agency issued an enforcement notice to Akhtar Waste and Energy Developments for the Bridgefoot Quarry Recycling Centre in Cambridgeshire. This notice requires that all waste material remaining is removed from the site by 16 February 2015.
The notice follows a large fire on 13 November 2014. All materials are required to be removed, including ash and debris, to further protect underlying groundwater from potential pollution.
Kevin Rutterford, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said:
“We have worked closely with partners including Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service to reduce the environmental impact this fire could have caused. The fire was allowed to burn in a controlled manner rather than using water to extinguish the flames in order to protect groundwater beneath the site.
“Issuing this Enforcement Notice is an extended measure to ensure the site is properly cleared of ash and debris to further protect the groundwater from potential pollution.”
This notice also suspends all operations at the recycling centre and means that no further waste can be accepted, treated or stored at this site until it is deemed to be suitable for operation again.
Scottish construction firm fined for failing to ensure licenced disposal of waste
CMI Demolition Limited received a £16,000 fine at Airdrie Sheriff Court on 31 December after the company failed to ensure the proper disposal of waste from their facility between March and June 2011.
The company knowingly allowed unlicensed contractors to transport and dispose of waste materials produced from CMI Demolition’s transfer station.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, companies have a legal duty of care to ensure that all operators who transport waste on their behalf are licenced as legitimate waste carriers. Each waste producer is also required to produce accurate waste transfer notes recording the type of waste concerned, where waste materials are taken to, when and by who to ensure waste is disposed of correctly.
SEPA was alerted to the breach in regulation following a prolonged investigation into the discovery of illegally dumped waste at a site in North Lanarkshire. Official documents salvaged from the waste allowed SEPA officers to trace the original owners, who subsequently identified CMI Demolition Ltd as their waste management provider.
While the illegal activities at Avonhead Road did not directly involve CMI Demolition Ltd, the company is still liable to enforcement action for failing to carry out adequate background checks, provide accurate waste transfer documentation and ensuring waste produced from their transfer station was disposed of correctly.
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