Grantham Magistrates Court has issued maximum fines to two companies involved in the illegal transportation of mixed waste to China. Metal recycling company BW Riddle, and Chungs UK Ltd, the scrap metal merchants, both pleaded guilty to charges
Routine Inspection at the Port of Felixstowe, requested by the National Environmental Crime Team in May 2011, uncovered 259 tonnes of illegal mixed waste headed to China. The waste from South Fen Road in Bourne was in breach of an international convention that both China and the UK are party to, which protects the environment and human health.
Colin Riddle, partner and representative of BW Riddle, and Chungs UK Ltd both pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply to the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations of 2007, resulting in a £5000 fine each. Riddle was also fined a further £4000 for failing in his duty of care.
The ten containers from Bourne, Lincolnshire, were labelled as Type A waste (i.e. construction and demolition Aluminium). However inspection revealed the waste to contain additional materials ranging from brick and stone, to copper wiring and pieces of uvpc window frames. Mrs Miriam Tordoff, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, explained to the court how both China and UK are part of a convention that dictates waste should be dealt with as close as possible to its generation site. The waste discovered was not eligible for transportation.
Although the waste was not deemed hazardous, no permission for its transportation had been granted from the Environment Agency or the Chinese authorities, and it was not clear that the waste would have been disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. This is not the first time that UK companies have been investigated for illegal waste shipments. In 2005, 1000 tonnes of contaminated household refuse disguised as waste paper was seized en route to China.
Both companies have a long association with China and have admitted that this was not the first time such an offence had been committed. Speaking about the case, Colin Riddle expressed his surprise at the charges, as he was unaware of the waste specifications. He added that he “did not intend to commit” the crimes, and that they were “technical breaches”.
Claire Parker, speaking on behalf of the Environment Agency, said after the hearing that “preventing the illegal export of waste is a top priority for the Environment Agency and we will take action where we find evidence of illegal waste movement.”
She added: “Anyone wishing to export waste must make sure they fully understand the UK legislation and the laws of the country the waste is going to before they arrange the export.”
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