Operators fined for depositing contaminated waste at farm

The boss of Bampton, Oxfordshire-based SJ Radband Haulage has been fined £1,600 for his company’s part in the transport of controlled waste to a site that did not have an environmental permit.

On 18 June, Oxford Crown Court was told that approximately 3,000 tonnes of controlled waste known in the industry as ‘trommel fines’, which can contain contaminants such as gypsum, were deposited at Aylesbury Mushrooms (Farms) site in Black Bourton, Oxfordshire.

The Environment Agency had received reports of trucks entering a gate at the Elmwood Farm site, carrying what was believed to be waste, in June 2012.

The court was told the waste had been misdescribed as a growing medium compost for the farm to avoid the higher disposal fees the company would have incurred if the material had been disposed of legitimately.

The Environment Agency said SJ Radband Haulage, which carried the waste, had failed to exercise due diligence in ensuring the waste had been properly described and that the land was covered by an environmental permit or exemption.

Aylesbury Mushrooms (Farms) and its owner Francis Stewart-Wood were fined £4,000 and £10,000 respectively, plus £2,000 each towards costs. Stephen Radband of SJ Radband Haulage was fined £1,600 with £2,000 towards costs.

In a separate hearing on 22 April at Oxford Magistrates’ Court Fred Sherwood and Sons (Transport), pleaded guilty to illegally depositing part of the same waste and failing in its duty of care.

It was fined £27,000, plus £3,000 in costs.

The waste came from a site in Neasden, west London, operated by waste firm Powerday, which pleaded guilty to related offences in April and will be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court in September.

Summing up: SJ Radband Haulage failed to ensure that the site it was delivering to had the required waste permit.

• This article was published in the 23 July issue of Commercial Motor. Subscribe today for the latest legal advice and cases.