17.11.2008

In the Courts - Waste Offences

McFletch Ltd company owner Christopher Fletcher was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,497 after pleading guilty to disposing of waste by burning it without a waste management licence for the site near Laundry Lane, Bury St Edmunds and a second of disposing of the waste in a manner likely to pollute the environment or harm human health.

Some of the residents in Laundry Lane, either suffered direct health effects or were concerned for their health. One described having to go indoors and close the windows after noticing a very strong plastic/chemical smell and having a 'horrid' taste in her mouth and a burning sensation in her throat. Another woke to a 'strong, nasty smell of smoke' and had to shut all her windows and was nervous about what the smoke contained.

Environment Agency officers who visited the site described seeing a large pile of demolition waste about 5m high by 30m wide containing timber (including painted and treated wood), plastic coated cabling, fibreglass insulation, interior wall panelling, plastic drainpipes, fascia boards and window parts.

Close to the pile was a bonfire about 4m in diameter and inside the incinerator being used were plastics, electrical cables, metal items, treated wood and insulation materials.

Fletcher was told to put the fire out and soon afterwards St Edmundsbury Council served an abatement notice on him.

After the hearing Environment Agency officer David Griffiths said:-

"It is unfortunate that, despite several warnings, Mr Fletcher chose to continue burning the waste once our officers had left the site. Thanks to the vigilance of nearby residents who recorded the 'frantic' burning activities we have been able to bring a successful prosecution. Hopefully this will send a strong message out to all demolition and construction businesses who are tempted to save money by illegally burning their waste."