Wednesday 3 June 2015

Durham man fined for waste offences

A man has been fined after pleading guilty to running an illegal waste site in County Durham.

Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, James Ian Campbell, 56, was charged with breaking environmental permit regulations.

He was fined £550, ordered to pay costs of £800 and a victim surcharge of £55 at Darlington Magistrates Court last Wednesday.

The Environment Agency said the site was used to import and separate waste into valuable and valueless parts to be either sold and valueless waste parts to be burned.

During site visits in the summer of 2014, Environment Agency officers saw burned items including mattresses, car tyres and frames. Mr Campell told the court he had a licence for the scrap metal and only burned wood and cardboard.

He was advised his licence only allowed him to carry scrap metal and not to store, deposit or dispose of mixed waste but in September 2014 more than 50 car and heavy goods vehicle tyres were at the site.