Airdrie company director given £9,000 fine for waste
offences
11 May 2010
Scotland's environment watchdog is reminding companies dealing
with waste that they must ensure they follow the terms of their
licences and registered exemptions. The warning comes after an
Airdrie company director was today (11 May) fined £9,000 for the
deposit of controlled waste on his site.
John Higgins, director of J H Civil Engineering Ltd, pled guilty
to knowingly causing or knowingly permitting controlled waste to be
deposited at Broadlees Industrial Estate, Carlisle Road,
Chapelhall, without the authority of a waste management licence.
This included waste soils and subsoils, brick, rubble, stone, wood,
plastic, metals, glass, cardboard, gas bottles, motor vehicles and
parts, oil, steel drums, window frames and other mixed wastes. The
matter was investigated by the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA) and reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
In July 2007 SEPA officers carried out an inspection of the site
to determine if a registered waste exemption for the site should be
renewed. The officers found that as well as soil, stones and road
planings, which would be allowed under the exemption, other mixed
wastes including wood and metals were also being stored. A
letter was sent to the company advising it to remove the
non-compliant waste to an appropriately licensed site for
disposal.
A waste transfer note was produced by the company to indicate
that the unacceptable waste had been removed. However, subsequent
inspections found a large volume of waste still present on the site
not covered by the exemption.
In January 2008 SEPA informed the company that the waste
exemption would be removed with effect from 3 March 2008. Several
follow-up inspections showed that although some waste had been
removed, soils, road planings and stone remained, along with
plastic, wood, metal drums and other mixed demolition waste.
Stuart Peat, SEPA's investigating officer, said:
"The storage of controlled waste in an area of land without a
sealed surface has the potential to cause contamination of ground
and water surfaces. The waste was stored in an open yard which is
not only an eyesore but can also attract other waste to be
fly-tipped. The company was given advice and guidance by officers
to bring the site in line with the regulations but this was not
done."
Colin Bayes, SEPA's Director of Environmental Protection and
Improvement said:
"We want to help people avoid pollution and advice on how to do
that is easily available from our staff, offices and
www.sepa.org.uk. The NetRegs website, www.netregs.gov.uk, also
offers clear guidance on environmental rules and regulations.
However, where pollution is significant or persistent, or is as a
result of wilful or negligent actions, SEPA will use its
enforcement powers to protect the environment for the benefit of
all of Scotland's citizens.
"Importantly, if a pollution incident occurs, we urge anyone to
let us know straight away by calling our 24 hour pollution report
line, 0800 80 70 60, giving as many details as possible so
effective action can be taken."
Ends
Notes to editor
The exact charge John Higgins pled guilty to was:
Between 10 July 2007 and 21 November 2008 in or on land at
Broadlees Industrial Estate, Carlisle Road, Chapelhall, Airdrie you
JOHN HIGGINS BEING A DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY J H CIVIL ENGINEERING
LIMITED did knowingly cause to be deposited/knowingly permit to be
deposited controlled waste, namely all controlled waste including
that consisting of waste soils and subsoils, waste brick, waste
rubble, waste stone, waste wood, waste plastic, waste metals, waste
glass, waste cardboard, waste gas bottles, waste motor vehicles and
parts, waste oil, waste steel drums, waste window frames and other
mixed wastes on or in said land without the authority of a waste
management licence;
CONTRARY to the Environmental Protection Act, Section 33(1)(a)
as amended