ABERDARE SKIP BUSINESS FINED OVER €5,000 FOR WASTE OFFENCES

11/05/2005 - An Aberdare skip operator pleaded guilty to two waste charges at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (27.04.05). Will Jones Skip Hire Limited, based on the Hirwaun Industrial Estate was fined a total of £5,500 and was ordered to pay full costs of £1,339 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
On one charge of illegally depositing waste, contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 11000 (EPA '90) the company was fined £5,000.

On a second charge, of failure to comply with their Duty of Care (See notes) contrary to Section 34 of EPA '90 the company was fined £500.

The incident had taken place on 26 April 2004 and came to the Environment Agency’s attention as a result of information received from South Wales Police. One of the Environment Agency’s officers witnessed a vehicle from Will Jones Skip Hire Ltd enter Blaenglais Farm, Vaynor, where the contents were tipped in a field. This was done without establishing whether the land had been granted a waste management licence or was exempt from licensing. The appropriate paperwork for complying with the Duty of Care had also not been completed.

Huw Price, Agency Team Leader Special Enforcement said: ' The sentences imposed by the magistrates should send a clear message to all waste operators of their obligations under waste legislation. This requires them to comply with the Duty of Care and to ensure that they only tip waste on land which has a waste management licence or that has an exemption.'