The Environmental Agency of the United Kingdom has ordered North Butte Metal Co. Ltd., a London scrap recycling company, to pay a fine of about £30,000 for operating an illegal waste site without a waste management license.
The company and its director, Richard Austin Smyth, pled guilty to 13 charges relating to the scrap yard.
The Environment Agency had issued a warning to North Butte Metal Company about two years ago that it was operating illegally and should cease and apply for a waste management license. But the illegal operation continued and a formal cessation notice was issued last April, ordering the waste to be removed. This notice was also ignored.
During the 13 inspection visits in 2004 investigating officers found a vast array of scrap metals, including three transformers, scrap cars, car components, tires, scrap motor cycles, gas cylinders and vehicle batteries.
Investigating enforcement officer for the Environment Agency Rob Argent said: “We are pleased the court has imposed these fines. We gave North Butte Metal Company’s management ample opportunity and time to comply with the law, but they chose to ignore our advice and instructions and have ended up paying the consequences.”
The company was fined £2,000 for each of the six offenses and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs. Smyth also admitted seven charges and was fined a total of £7,000.
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