North Lincolnshire company fined for illegally burning waste

Wrawby Services Ltd in Brigg has now been ordered to pay over £3,000.

On January 12, the Director of Wrawby Services Ltd, Angus Heron attended Grimsby Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty on behalf of the company.

They were ordered to pay a £2,500 fine, £372.20 investigation costs, £250 costs and £170 victim surcharge.

On June 23 last year, a North Lincolnshire Council Environmental Health Officer witnessed smoke coming from a fire at the company.

Disposing of waste in a manner likely to cause pollution is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Thus us the second time the company has been prosecuted. In January 2014, Wrawby Services Ltd was prosecuted for a similar offence and fined over £5,000.

Councillor Richard Hannigan, cabinet member for Safer, Greener and Cleaner Places, said: “Commercial waste fires usually occur due to businesses trying to avoid the costs of legitimate waste disposal. It is completely unacceptable for businesses to think they can get away with disposing of waste illegally. It can cause damaging effects to the environment and cause health problems for people with breathing and heart conditions.

“This is the second time that Wrawby Services Ltd have been prosecuted for illegally burning waste, which is shocking. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but still went ahead with no thought for the environment or local people.

“Please let this be a warning to other businesses that you will be prosecuted if you break the law. It is unfair for taxpayers’ money to be spent on investigating cases like this. This money could be put to better use. Businesses have a duty of care to dispose of their waste correctly.”

Councils are responsible for controlling and preventing air pollution whether under local air pollution controls or by tackling the illegal burning of waste. Commercial waste fires usually occur due to businesses seeking to avoid waste disposal costs.