Environmental Update (December 2009)
EA Calls for Higher Fines
The Environment Agency (EA) has urged courts to issue tougher
fines for businesses that pollute in order to help continue a
downward trend in the number of serious incidents.
The latest statistics from the EA reveal that the number of
cases of serious pollution in England and Wales dropped 13% from
827 in 2007 to 723 in 2008 – down 44% from the 1,854 major
incidents recorded in 2001. Yorkshire/North East and North West
England were the regions with the highest number of serious
incidents caused by industry in 2008.
Last year, the EA successfully brought 722 cases against
companies and individuals for environmental offences, resulting in
fines and costs of £5.3m. The average fine against companies in
2008 was £10,080 – up from £8,229 the previous year.
Two of the biggest company fines were for Western Wines,
Telford, which was forced to pay £225,000 for flouting packaging
waste regulations and Anglian Water, which was fined £150,000 for
repeated illegal discharging from sewage treatment works. The
Midlands and the South West regions had the highest number of
prosecutions for environmental offences in 2008.
Companies involved in the management of waste were responsible
for a third (146) of all serious pollution incidents caused by
businesses in 2008, mainly relating to air pollution from landfill
or composting sites. Farms caused more than a quarter (113) of all
industrial incidents, mainly linked to water pollution, whilst
water companies were responsible for a sixth (61) of incidents,
principally from sewage pumping stations, foul sewers and combined
sewer overflows.
Serious incidents this year include October's cyanide pollution
of the River Trent in which thousands of fish died. The EA is
continuing its investigation into the incident after serving an
official suspension notice on Red Industries Ltd of
Stoke-on-Trent.
Environment
Agency,
November 2009
The above statement from the Environment Agency
reiterates the importance of businesses managing their
environmental impacts. Going-forward it will become more and more
likely that incidences of pollution will be more severely
punished.
For further information on the Mentor Environmental
Service, please call us on 0800 634 7006.
Please read legal information.