The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a Scunthorpe-based company and a director for operating an illegal waste facility
Director ignores Environment Agency advice about permitting
Site assessed to have stored over 700 tonnes of waste
Previous site operators had been prosecuted for storing excess waste
Fines and costs totalling £47,970 were imposed in a case against a Scunthorpe-based company and a director, heard at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday 30 June 2023.
SBR Group Developments Limited, of Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, admitted operating a waste facility in contravention of environmental permits. The company was fined £25,640 and ordered to pay costs of £17,000.
At the same hearing, the company director, Matthew Berry, 44, of Clitheroe Road, Knowle Green, Longridge, Lancs, was fined £3,330 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs after he pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The court was told that Berry had purchased the site in Winterton Road in late 2017/18 from Thompsons Waste Management Limited. This company, which had gone into liquidation, had previously been prosecuted for keeping waste in excess of its environmental permit.
In an effort to reduce this waste which his company had inherited, Berry contacted the Environment Agency in August 2018 to discuss how to clear the site.
However, he was told that he needed an environmental permit or a registered exemption to carry out waste activities on the site.
Further site visits were carried out in June and December 2019 when waste was still present.
Officers from the Environment Agency also found a heap of fines from a trommel machine which is used to break up waste.
The defendant attended a formal interview in January 2020 when he said that nearly all the waste had been removed to landfill.
But at a further visit in June 2021 officers noted that large piles of shredded waste were still on the site. It was finally cleared in November 2021.
Officers estimated that the operator had avoided £19,189.50 in permitting charges. The site was also assessed to have stored 726.31 tonnes of waste.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
“We welcome this sentence which should act as a deterrent to other companies who breach environmental legislation.
“As a regulator, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to pursue companies that fail to meet its obligations.
“The conditions of an environmental permit are designed to protect people and the environment.
“Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment and undermine legitimate businesses.
“If anyone has environmental concerns they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.”
Charges
Operating a Regulated Facility except under and to the extent authorised by an Environmental Permit, contrary to Regulations 12 (1) (a) and Regulation 38 (1) (a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Between 30 October 2018 and 23 June 2021 at SBR House, Winterton Road Scunthorpe, SBR Group Developments Limited did operate a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit.
Operating a Regulated Facility except under and to the extent authorised by an Environmental Permit, contrary to Regulations 12 (1) (a) and Regulation 38 (1) (a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Between 30 October 2018 and 23 June 2021 at SBR House, Winterton Road Scunthorpe, Matthew Berry did operate a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit.