A Devon skip firm has been ordered to pay £5,500 in fines and costs for illegally burning waste.
In a case brought by the Environment Agency the company, Tivvy Skips, which operates near Tiverton, was found to be routinely burning waste in a skip at its site.
Alan Hutchings, the site’s manager, told Exeter magistrates that the illegal burning was carried out by a member of staff without his knowledge.
The court heard that the Environment Agency had previously warned the company about burning waste but that it had ignored the warnings.
Richard Tugwell of the Environment Agency, said: “Burning waste is illegal and poses a serious risk to the environment and human health.
"The motive is nearly always financial as it reduces the amount of waste a company has to legally dispose of. Courts take these offences seriously and where we have evidence, we won’t hesitate to prosecute."
