A man from Rochdale
who illegally exported fridge and freezers
to Ghana has been brought to justice by
the Environment Agency.
Mr Phillip Jesson who
operated a waste site in Rochdale has been
ordered to serve 280 hours of unpaid work
and given a six months curfew order for
not having the correct environmental permission
in place for the site and for exporting
the waste to Ghana.
Mr Jesson operated a site at Britannia Works,
Smallbridge, Rochdale where he was storing
waste fridges, freezers, televisions and
computers of which some parts are classed
as hazardous. By operating this site without
a permit in place there is the potential
for significant harm to the environment
and/or human health. Sites which operate
with environmental permits have strict controls
in place and also benefit from regular visits
from the Environment Agency to ensure that
their activities will not cause harm.
Following a routine
stop check by authorities in Belgium, a
shipping container was found to contain
waste fridges and freezers. The container
had been exported from the UK and was destined
for Ghana. It was found that Mr Jesson was
exporting waste illegally from his site
in Rochdale. Under current legislation,
the export of.waste fridges and freezers
to Ghana is prohibited.
The export of hazardous
waste to developing countries is illegal
due to concerns that the waste cannot be
handled in an environmental friendly manner.
If the container had not been checked in
Belgium there is a considerable risk that
the hazardous contents would have been dumped
in Ghana causing significant environmental
harm.
Jennie Frieze, prosecuting
for the Environment Agency said, “ The law
is clear, it is always illegal to export
waste from the UK for disposal. It is legal
to export fully functioning products for
re-use, but the export of hazardous waste,
including waste fridges and freezers, to
developing countries is illegal and causes
harm to people and the environment.
Exporting waste illegally
is a serious criminal offence which can
result in harm to the environment and people
in its destination country. Illegal waste
operations in the UK affect the quality
of people’s lives and undermine legitimate
businesses all over the world and we are
determined to stamp them out. “
Ends
For media enquiries
please contact the press office on 01925
542621
Out of hours please call 07776497255 and
ask for the duty press officer
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
European law is clear
– it is always illegal to export electrical
waste to be dumped overseas. Working or
reparable electrical items can be exported
for reuse.
Electrical waste contains toxins including
mercury, arsenic and lead, the health of
people is put at risk when this waste is
illegally exported and then burnt to recover
the valuable metals inside.
More information can be found on our website
at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Charges
That on or before 17
September 2009 at premises known as Britannia
Works, Dyehouse Lane, Smallbridge, Rochdale,
you did contravene Regulation 12 of the
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales)
Regulations 2007 in that you operated a
regulated facility except under and to the
extent authorised by an environmental permit,
contrary to Regulation 38(1)(a) of the Environmental
Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations
2007.
That on or before 3
June 2009 at Britannia Works, Dyehouse Lane,
Smallbridge, Rochdale you transported waste
destined for Ghana, a country to which the
OECD Decision does not apply, in breach
of Article 36(1) of Regulation (EC) 1013/2006,
contrary to Regulation 23 of the Transfrontier
Shipment of
Waste Regulations 2007.
+ More
Environment Agency tackles
illegal fishing in Buckinghamshire
The Environment Agency
is warning members of the public to take
extra care and be vigilant whilst out fishing,
after receiving numerous reports of suggested
illegal activity in Buckinghamshire.
Environment Agency tackles
illegal fishing in Buckinghamshire
The Environment Agency is stepping up evening
illegal fish patrols after reports of poaching
in the Kingsey area of Buckinghamshire.
After receiving numerous
reports of suggested illegal activity at
Kingsey Lake and the surrounding waters
within the Thames area, the Environment
Agency is warning members of the public
to take extra care and be vigilant whilst
out fishing.
Fishing is one of the
most popular pastimes and with summer just
around the corner, the number of people
on and around the water will increase dramatically.
The pleasant evenings and weekends will
bring many people out to enjoy fishing along
the river, but unfortunately a few of those
people are illegally taking fish from the
rivers and waters.
Nicholas Robinson, an
Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement
Officer, said: “Although poaching is often
portrayed as a victimless crime, this is
far from true. It can have a very serious
impact on the local fisheries, angling clubs
and businesses that are reliant on healthy
fish populations in rivers and lakes.
“Many people don’t
realise that taking fish from inland waters,
including rivers, streams, lakes and canals
is strictly controlled and may constitute
an offence. Anyone 12 years old or over
whom wants to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater
fish and eels in England and Wales must
have a valid licence. If you are caught
fishing illegally, you can face tough penalties,
including fines of up to £2,500 and
a ban from fishing.”
Mr Robinson added: “Fish
thieves are well organised and it is only
through the understanding and help of the
public that we can tackle this problem.
Usually the only evidence that these people
have come and gone is the sudden drop of
fish numbers in a stretch of water.”
It is an offence to
use any fishing equipment for which you
are not licensed, or to fish in the close
season, which runs from March 15 to June
16 on rivers. Parents who know that their
children are going fishing need to make
sure that each child (12 or over) has a
licence and permission to do so and that
they have the right equipment. It might
seem like harmless fun but children angling
without the permission of the owner to fish
from those waters are actually committing
an offence under the Theft Act, 1968.
All anglers need to
find out about fishing bylaws, have a valid
Environment Agency Rod Licence, permission
to fish the water and the right equipment
to do so.
If anyone sees or needs
to report an incident call the Environment
Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800
80 70 60. Anglers and members of the public
are the Environment Agency’s eyes and ears
at the water side and their help is needed
to detect any offences that may be occurring,
so that the Environment Agency can take
the appropriate action.
