20/05/2005 - A London
man was fined almost £500 yesterday
for driving a lorry fully loaded with construction
and demolition waste without the required
documentation.
Michael Sexton, of Cromer Street, St Pancras,
London, appeared at Barnet Magistrate’s Court,
on May 19, where he pleaded guilty to two
offences. The first for failing to register
with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier
under by the Control of Pollution (Amendment)
Act 1989 and the second for failing to secure
a waste transfer note containing a written
description of the waste when transporting
controlled waste, as required by the Environmental
Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.
Mr Sexton was fined £240 for each offence
and ordered to pay a contribution of £300
towards the prosecution costs.
On November 26 2004 Mr Sexton was stopped
by enforcement officers from the Environment
Agency who were taking part in a joint operation
with the Metropolitan Police and the Vehicle
and Operator Services Agency. He was stopped
by the police driving a tipper truck fully
loaded with construction and demolition waste
and taken to a checkpoint. When interviewed
under caution Mr Sexton admitted that he did
not have a waste transfer note and further
enquiries established that he was not registered
with the Environment Agency to carry waste.
It is important waste carriers are registered
with the Environment Agency to ensure that
waste is deposited at licensed facilities.
Waste carriers must also complete waste transfer
notes each time the waste is transferred so
that it can be tracked throughout its lifetime
in accordance with the duty of care regime
established by the Environmental Protection
Act 11000.
Brain Hyams, enforcement officer, said: “The
Duty of Care exists to ensure that waste is
disposed of legitimately without causing harm
to the environment or human health. If the
Environment Agency is unable to track waste
from the cradle to the grave there is no knowing
where potentially harmful waste will end up.”
Companies and individuals can contact the
Environment Agency for advice and information
on waste disposal by contacting 08708 506
506. Members of the public can report environmental
incidents to the Agency’s emergency hotline
on 0800 80 70 60.
