A waste transfer station has been fined £10,000 for causing pollution described as ‘more polluting than crude sewage’.
Overview
The Environment Agency reported that vegetable oil that polluted a ditch leading to the Cut-off Channel in Downham Market was more polluting that crude sewage.
D.J. Taylor (Anglian Oils) Ltd operates a household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station taking in and treating waste edible oils and fats and supply vegetable oils.
An Environment Agency investigation found evidence that contaminated water had got into a surface water drain in the yard.
They found surface water drainage from the site polluted a lagoon. The pollution flowed into the watercourse making it a dirty white colour.
Contaminated empty storage containers and wooden pallets were found at the site stored next to a rainwater gully strip. There were also milky-coloured puddles in the yard and inside the factory building.
Water samples were taken from the ditch which later showed that there was gross pollution. In the surface water drain on site the measurement of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) being used in the breakdown of the pollutant measured 18,500 mg/l, from the outfall measured 2,280 mg/l and from 110 metres downstream was 1,010 mg/l. Typically clean river water will have a measurement of less than 3 mg/l.
Untreated or crude sewage would normally be expected to show a BOD in the range of 250 to 400 mg/l.
Outcome
The Environment Agency prosecuted D.J. Taylor (Anglian Oils) Ltd. The Company pleaded guilty to offences under Regulation 12(1)(b) and regulation 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.
They were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,427.
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Source: Environment Agency
