| 20/12/2005
- The Environment Agency is appealing for anyone with information
about the illegal dumping of a considerable quantity of
soil and demolition waste at a local sports club to get
in touch. Environment Agency
officers are trying to trace the source of the waste,
which was found dumped in the car park of the Standard
Triumph Sports and Social Club on Tanners Lane in Coventry.
We suspect that the waste, which would
have been transported in a number of vehicles, was deposited
in the last month. If anyone has information about vehicles
seen in the area, or knows of the source of this material,
they should contact our emergency hotline as soon as possible
on 0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24hrs a day, 365
days a year, calls are free and will be treated in the
strictest confidence.
Mike Wooldridge, an Environment Officer
investigating the deposit said: "It is everyone’s
duty to ensure that any waste they produce or handle is
transported and deposited in a safe and legal way. We
are concerned that there are people who are illegally
disposing of large quantities of waste in a way that spoils
everyone’s enjoyment of the environment.
"We take cases such as this very
seriously and will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement
action against those responsible. All we need is the evidence
and we hope local people will be able to help us by providing
information."
Companies that collect and transport
waste should be registered with the Environment Agency
as waste carriers and have a legal duty to keep written
records, called waste transfer notes. Failure to do so
could result in the company’s prosecution and a fine of
up to £5,000.
Mike Wooldridge added: "You can
check whether the company you use is registered by asking
to see their certificate, by calling the Environment Agency
on 08708 506506, or by checking on our website at:
http://www2.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr/search.asp?type=register
"Ideally before awarding a waste
disposal contract you should also ask where the waste
will be taken to and check out the legality of the proposed
disposal site. Making spot checks by calling the proposed
disposal site and ensuring your waste is arriving will
also help ensure that the contractor you use is legitimate." |
