Scrap metal firm faces huge fine for illegal burning of waste

LONDON (Scrap Monster):  Chesterfield-based scrap metal business-Richard Fletcher (Metals) Ltd-has been fined heavily for illegal dumping and burning of waste. The North East Derbyshire & Dales Magistrates has ordered the company to pay £16,000 as fines. In addition, the company will have to pay £3,097.73 in costs and a victim surcharge of £120.

The incident took place last year when Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to extinguish a large fire in company premises. It took 90 minutes for the firefighters to bring the fire under control. The Environment Agency officials later found that the company had burned waste materials including coach seats, rubber, metal, and vinyl. The fire had spread and huge pillars of smoke engulfed the neighboring areas.

The fire had continued to burn the next day also. Environment Agency officials reported that a bus too was on fire. Fire officials took almost 3 hours to extinguish the blaze. The investigating officers had also found several types of burnt waste, including soil, metal, plastic, rubber, cardboard, rubble, and foam chairs.

The company had claimed that the fire resulted by the acts of company employees who were unaware of the law. However, the Court ruled that such acts by the company employees had resulted in risks to human health and the environment. In addition it also caused the public administration, huge sums of money, the Court noted.