Winters Haulage has been ordered to pay more than £28,000 in fines and costs after breaching its environmental permit at its former London waste site.
Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court was told that the Hertfordshire-based operator failed to comply with the conditions of its permit for its Oakleigh Road South, Southgate, London site, which it no longer occupies.
The Environment Agency said it stored waste including wood, plastic and soil outside the waste reception building, in violation of its permit.
The height of the waste also exceeded the maximum 2.5m it was allowed to store.
The agency, which prosecuted the company, said it failed to resolve the problems on the site, despite receiving advice and guidance from the agency.
In an interview under caution, director Mark Winters said the company was eager to comply with its permit but had not been able to do so following an arson attack at its Hitchin, Hertfordshire site that caused a backlog of waste.
The company, which holds an O-licence for 30 vehicles and 12 trailers across two sites in Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to waste permit breaches at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 9 November. It was fined £15,000 and £13,878.34 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
Environment officer Ruth Shaw said: “It was clear from the site visits by Environment Agency officers that the company had breached its permit conditions. Storing waste in excess of the amount permitted and outside rather than inside the designated covered area increases the potential risk to the environment and human health.
“Our main concern was dust emissions, as dust is created by tipping and bulking waste. Also, the stockpiling of combustible waste presents a fire risk. The greater the amount of waste, the more serious the fire.
“The site is located near local businesses and residential properties so action had to be taken,” she added.
