Ryde business fined 12k for storing hazardous waste
Ryde Demolition Company Ltd has been fined £12,500 with a victim surcharge of £170 and costs of £4,000 for storing asbestos waste without a waste permit and failure to comply with hazardous waste regulations. The company’s director, Mr Neil Hamilton of St John’s Hill, Ryde, has also been fined £1,108 with a victim surcharge after pleading guilty to the charges at Newport Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday). The Environment Agency received a report in April 2017 that Ryde Demolition Company Ltd were storing asbestos in a large container skip. Environment Agency officers attended the site and Mr Harrison admitted that he had been transporting and depositing asbestos waste at Rosemary Copse Farm off Smallbrook Lane in Ryde. He stored the waste at the farm until the asbestos container was full and then he would remove it to the mainland. Mr Harrison, as director of Ryde Demolition Company Ltd, attended a recorded interview at Chichester Police Station where he admitted to the transfer, deposit and storage of asbestos waste on land at Rosemary Copse Farm without holding an Environmental Permit. Ryde Demolition Company Ltd also admitted to not using consignment notes correctly and for failing to submit consignee returns for the movement of the hazardous wastes. Richard O’Callaghan, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said: “Mr Harrison’s actions showed a blatant disregard for the environment. We have previously prosecuted Mr Harrison for a similar offence in December 2013. Asbestos is a hazardous waste and needs to be transported and stored correctly. In cases like this we have no hesitation in prosecuting those involved”. “To ensure that the right waste gets to the right place, we encourage the public and businesses to check that their waste carrier is registered on Gov.UK. If you are getting rid of any hazardous waste, including asbestos you should receive a ‘consignment note’ that tracks the waste. If your waste carrier is not registered, then you must use one that is”.
