Scrapyard manager sentenced following licence suspension

A scrapyard manager based in Fife has been handed a community service sentence following his acceptance of waste vehicles despite a licence suspension.

The site at Methilhaven Road in Muiredge, which was managed by James Hutchison, was found to be storing waste motor vehicles and parts in an unsuitable way.

This led to the site's waste management licence being partially suspended in early 2007. However, Hutchinson continued to accept waste vehicles throughout 2008 and 2009 despite the suspension.

He was also found to be continuing to store the vehicles on unsuitable surfaces, which did not meet the environmental standards necessary to obtain a licence. Amongst the offences was the storage of oily vehicle parts including engines on permeable ground – thus allowing the oil to seep into the earth. Potentially dangerous items such as car batteries and steering fluids were also stored incorrectly.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) investigating officer, Neil Morrison, said, "The regulations around the storage of waste vehicles are designed to promote the collection, re-use and recycling of components to protect the environment.

"In particular it requires that waste motor vehicles can only be stored and treated in accordance with strict environmental treatment standards."

Mr Morrison added that waste vehicles "must be stored and treated without causing harm to the environment and specific requirements, such as impermeable surfaces with provision for spillage collection and appropriate storage containers for parts and fluids, must be met."