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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Hinkcroft Transport Fined 65,000 After Admitting Permit Breaches

Hinkcroft Transport Fined 65,000 After Admitting Permit Breaches

4 May 2011

The company faced two charges under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2007 and 2010 in relation to the operation of its South London waste transfer site

In a case heard at Croydon Crown Court, it emerged that the main breaches of the company's permit related to "persistent foul odour" which was said to be creating "misery" for nearby residents over a two-year period.

Issue also resulted from waste taken in by Hinkcroft from the South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) plant, which is on an adjacent site to Hinkcroft's yard. The SELCHP energy-from-waste plant is managed by Veolia Environmental Services.

According to the Environment Agency, Hinkcroft accepts waste from the SELCHP plant when it encounters unplanned closures or is stopped for maintenance. During these periods, Veolia diverts 25-30 percent of waste inputs to the Hinkcroft site.

This additional waste was said by the Agency to be a "major cause of odour" due to the fact it placed Hinkcroft at over-capacity and led to increased working hours.

Furthermore, Hinkcroft resorted to shredding mixed degradable waste to increase handling capacity - a practice that increased odour and was not covered under the company's environmental permit and was found to have exceeded its permitted limit by 22,000 tonnes between July 2008 and June 2009.

Between July 2007 and June 2008, it was found to have exceeded its 95,000 tonne permitted limit by 44,000 tonnes.

Following a number of resident complaints - including a complaint from Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock - 59 permit breaches were found by Environment Agency officers over the course of 41 visits to the site between January 2008 and December 2009.

The Environment Agency held drop-in sessions for residents in May 2009, where Hinkcroft issued a statement acknowledging it had caused odour and dust problems. However, at a meeting in July 2009 on the Hinkcroft site, the Agency said it detected an "unpleasant odour" from "rotting waste".

Sentencing

His Honour Judge Brasse said the case involved "serious breaches" of the permit that affected the amenity of the local area and "interfered with the resident's enjoyment of their homes and local environment". In addition to the £65,000 fine, the company was also ordered to pay £22,387 in costs.

Commenting on the case, environment agency officer Jess Lockett said: "Despite our attempts to remedy the problem through warning letters, meetings with the company and enforcement notices, the company demonstrated a blatant disregard for its permit conditions, the environment and misery caused to local residents.

"This case demonstrates that the courts will hold companies to account for breaches in their environmental permits, particularly when they have an adverse effect on the lives of the local community."

Darrel Moore