Asbestos firms fined

Peterborough Evening Telegraph 21 November 2007 reported that fireworks and spray cans were mixed with asbestos before being dumped at a landfill site near Peterborough – in a breach of strict environmental rules.

The city magistrates’ court heard that it was only when an eagle-eyed landfill worker saw the materials being tipped into the site and flagged it up with his boss that the breach came to light, and an Environment Agency probe into two companies’ actions was launched.

The court was told that putting different hazardous materials together could cause “serious environmental health risks”, including sparking fires and releasing potentially deadly asbestos fibres into the air.

Since July 16, 2005, asbestos can only be landfilled in separate cells isolating it from other materials which break down to create gas.

Astra UK (Contracts) Ltd, faced two charges – of mixing asbestos with other waste, such as fireworks, wood and flammable solvents on June 12 last year and writing a “ misleading” note to skip hire company Bowmer (Waste Disposal) Ltd as to what the materials were.

Bowmer was charged with causing Thornaugh Landfill Site to be in breach of its permit by not checking the contents of the skip matched the description given to them.Both pleaded guilty at earlier hearings.

Prosecuting for the Environment Agency, Anna-Lise McDonald said just by looking at the waste it would have been “obvious” it did not contain solely asbestos. She said: “Astra had a contract with a Kent housing association to remove asbestos from their properties. “An employee had written a misleading description of what was in the bag, resulting in the waste being disposed of inappropriately.“There are strict rules as to the mixing of different materials and dumping them in landfill to ensure public and environmental safety.“Astra should have known it was not appropriate to mix the different materials. “Bowmer didn’t confirm the contents were as per consignment note and didn’t inspect the contents. “If they had inspected them, even visually , it would have been obvious it had been mis-described.”

Astra was fined £2,500 in total and ordered to pay £2,200 costs.Bowmer was given a two year conditional discharge and must pay £5,400 costs.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Asbestos-firms-fined.3511352.jp