Business can help to
safeguard the environment for future generations
and use resources, including cash, more
efficiently by working
with us.
Lincolnshire potato
giant helps to spread the message
That is the message from the Environment
Agency, whose task it is to make sure industries
such as power stations, landfill sites and
farming adhere to strict environmental regulations.
And the “Good for Business,
Good for the Environment” message is now
being supported by Branston Ltd, one of
the UK’s largest buyers, packers and distributors
of potatoes.
At a Lincolnshire Fresh
Start Academy event held last week, Branston
joined the Environment Agency to raise awareness
of environmental regulations among young
farmers and landowners of the future. The
young farmers heard about the Environment
Agency’s work with potato giant, Branston,
to ensure all its operations meet high environmental
standards. The Environment Agency also works
with the company on its new projects to
ensure environmental considerations are
planned for from the start of the project,
which often helps save money in the long-run
too.
Darren Smith, Senior
Environmental Planning Officer, was one
of the speakers at the event, held at Lincoln
University’s Riseholme Campus on Thursday,
18 March.
He said: “We are delighted
that Branston recognises that complying
willingly with environmental legislation,
while requiring long-term commitment and
hard work on the part of the company, can
make financial as well as environmental
sense.
“Many of the measures
which Branston have put into place, such
as the responsible and effective use of
water and energy resources, means that not
only is the environment protected for future
generations, but that the company saves
money as well.”
Vidyanath Gururajan,
Branston’s Projects Director, said: “Branston
is committed to long term sustainability
and we’re working on a number of initiatives
that will help with our low carbon = low
cost strategy. Our involvement with the
Environment Agency has helped us to consider
the regulatory implications of projects
at the outset so that we can incorporate
the requirements. It also means that the
Environment Agency has a good understanding
of our projects at an early stage, making
it much easier for it to assess them.”
David Hutchinson, Senior
Environment Officer at the Environment Agency,
said: “The Environment Agency is here to
offer help and advice to individuals and
businesses on environmental legislation
and best practice. We prefer to work with
people, but we do have powers to take enforcement
action against poor performers. It is encouraging
when companies like Branston take a proactive
approach in improving their environmental
performance and go beyond the legal requirements.”
Harriet Butt, Lincolnshire
Fresh Start Academy Coordinator, said: “This
is an excellent opportunity for new entrants
in the farming industry to understand how
to show good practice in their environmental
responsibilities. Direct contact with the
Environment Agency will help them to develop
and protect their businesses and hearing
Branston share their experiences is of great
value to young people coming into the industry.”
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Environment Agency Wales
cleans up local water environment all round
With water quality in
Llay, near Wrexham, due to improve thanks
to the work of Environment Agency Wales,
the organisation has now been tidying up
the area with others lending a helping hand.
Earlier this month (Thursday
18th March) the Agency helped to improve
the appearance of the Singrett Brook with
help from members of Keep Wales Tidy, North
Wales Probation, Fly-tipping Action Wales
and local volunteers.
The Agency is currently
delivering a five year project to improve
the water quality of the River Alyn. As
part of this work it was identified that
Singrett Brook, a small tributary of the
River Alyn in the Llay area, was being affected
by pollution discharges from the Llay Industrial
Estate and main sewer.
Over the last six months
Agency officers visited a number of the
estate’s industrial sites and provided pollution
prevention advice, in addition to investigating
any misconnections and sewage pollution
incidents.
A couple of misconnections
were identified and steps taken to rectify
the problem. However, vandalism, litter
and fly-tipping continues to be rife in
the area, and at this time of year the vegetation
is very low so all is visible.
Environment Agency Wales
environment officer Chiara Caserotti said:
“Following on from our work to improve the
brook’s water quality we offered our services
to help improve the general appearance of
the area. Whilst we are not responsible
for the maintenance of the brook we wanted
to take part to make a positive difference
to the local community. We hope that this
tidy up will help deter future incidents
of fly tipping. We removed large items that
had been tipped and had accumulated in the
watercourse.”
Keep Wales Tidy led
a litter pick along the footpath to the
Brook with the Probation Service and volunteers
also taking part. Fly Tipping Action Wales
provided a skip for the safe disposal of
litter and other unwanted items.
Anthony Randles, of
Fly-tipping Action Wales, said: “We were
proud to be involved in this clean-up operation.
It’s so important that this area remains
waste free after this operation. We would
encourage householders to ask any person
removing their household waste where their
waste is going, and wherever possible to
use a licensed registered waste carrier.”
Environment Agency Wales
is not responsible for the maintenance of
the brook but offered its help with the
clean up as a gesture of goodwill to improve
the general appearance of the area.
You can help your environment
by reporting any incidents of pollution
or illegal tipping of waste to the Environment
Agency, via its 24 hour free phone number
0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from
a landline and mobiles are charged at their
normal network rate. Information is treated
in the strictest confidence.
For guidance on how
to identify and address misconnections within
housing or industrial areas visit www.connectright.org.uk;
the ConnectRight campaign brings together
partners who are working together to reduce
water pollution.
+ More
Three arrested in crackdown
on waste crime by Environment Agency
Three men were arrested
today in a joint operation involving the
Environment Agency, Devon & Cornwall
Police and Avon & Somerset Police.
The arrests were made
by the police as part of ‘Operation Hemlock’
– an Environment Agency investigation into
the illegal handling and disposal of tyres
across the country. Environmental Crime
officers are targeting sites where large
volumes of poor quality tyre bales are being
illegally handled.
The arrests were made
at various addresses in the Exeter and Taunton
areas. The three men have been questioned
and released on police bail to reappear
on 22 June.
‘The Environment Agency
is committed to making sure that people
who deal in waste tyres do so properly to
protect the environment and the interest
of legitimate businesses,’ said Malcolm
Newton for the Environment Agency.
‘We are very grateful
to Devon & Cornwall and Avon & Somerset
Police for their assistance in this operation
and their recognition that illegal waste
crime is a serious problem.’
