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The ugly oil leak that has cost a Welsh recycling centre almost GBP50,000

A Welsh recycling centre has been ordered to pay almost GBP50,000[1] after an oil leak which was not dealt with quickly enough, a court heard. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) launched an investigation in February last year after an incident at Ammanford Recycling Limited in Carmarthenshire. It was found that oil had escaped from the site onto neighbouring land and the leak, according to NRW, was “not immediately responded to”.

Ammanford Recycling Limited failed to comply with conditions set out in their environmental permit which states that the scrap metal recycling centre is “required to immediately implement control and remediation procedures in line with the necessary standards following a potentially polluting leak or spillage on site”.

(Image: Natural Resources Wales)

The company had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with an environmental permit and was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on January 5 when it was hit with a GBP42,000 fine. In addition to that it must pay GBP4,652.42 in costs and a surcharge of GBP2,000 making a total in fines and costs of GBP48,652.42. The surcharge must be paid within three months while the costs must be paid within six months.

Half the fine must be paid by January 5, 2025, with the other half due by January 2026.

References

  1. ^ ordered to pay almost GBP50,000 (www.walesonline.co.uk)