UK Scrap Yard Owner Fined for Running Illegal Business

The United Kingdom-based Environment Agency has fined Matthew Wise, the owner of Vauxhall Spares, £2,100 after he was discovered illegally dismantling vehicles.

In July 2005, an Environment Agency officer visited Plymouth Vauxhall Spares, to see if it was suitable for use as a licensed end of life vehicle site. Wise was advised to make an application for a waste management license, but first to ensure that he had the relevant planning permission.

A second visit was made in December 2005 and although there were some car doors hanging in a garage there was no evidence of any cars being treated.

But during a third visit on June 27 2006 vehicles were being prepared for disposal without the necessary license. The area where vehicles were being dismantled was not fitted with a sealed drainage system.

The end of life vehicle directive requires any site used for breaking up cars to meet the standards for storage, de-pollution and dismantling.

At Plymouth Vauxhall Spares there was no sign of any pollution prevention systems such as oil interceptors or sealed drainage on the farm.

He claimed that he believed that he could remove spare parts from vehicles to build up his stock for his business and that he intended to apply for a license once he had been granted planning permission. Further research revealed the planning application was not made until 24 May 2006 – ten months after the first visit.