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A Mearn's business has been fined £1000 for illegally burning waste. GF Bisset (Inverbervie) Limited pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced on Wednesday 13 August at Stonehaven Sheriff Court. The case had been reported to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The offence took place on 7 August 2002 at a building site at Gourdon, Aberdeenshire where construction waste, including wood, plastics, plasterboard and paint cans were bring burnt.
Janet Thomson, Environment Protection Officer, said: "Burning waste can cause damage to the environment and public health, which is why it's illegal. While we would prefer for this incident not to have taken place at all, we hope that the level of this fine will send a message to other businesses that they can't take short-cuts around legislation which protects our environment."
During the investigation, something in the fire exploded while a SEPA officer was taking photographic evidence. Although this was not part of the charge in court, it could have been a danger to anyone near the fire.
The company was charged under Section 33(1)(b) Environmental Protection Act 1990.
ENDS
Photos from the site of the fire are available.
Contact
Stewart Argo, public relations officer - 01224 248338, 07799 477972
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