Hinkcroft fined £65k for ‘foul odours’
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Hinkcroft Transport was fined £65,000 after neighbours complained about “persistent foul odours”
By Roger Brown
HINKCROFT TRANSPORT has been ined £65,000 for waste permit breaches following complaints from residents about “persistent foul odours” coming from its south London yard.
At a Croydon Crown Court hearing on 28 April, the waste haulier, based in Landmann Way, New Cross, was charged with two offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2007 and 2010. The company – authorised for 20 vehicles and seven trailers – was also ordered to pay £22,837 costs.
The irm’s facility handles a mixture of waste materials including construction, metal and degradable household and commercial waste.
A total of 59 permit breaches were recorded following 41 site visits by the Environment Agency (EA) between January 2008 and December 2009. Waste tonnage returns between July 2008 and June 2009 showed that Hinkcroft had exceeded its 95,000 tonne permit limit for degradable household, commercial and industrial wastes by more than 22,000 tonnes.
It had previously exceeded the limit by more than 44,000 tonnes between July 2007 and June 2008.
Hinkcroft shredded mixed degradable waste to increase handling capacity, which it did not have permission for, exacerbating the odour problems.
Residents complained of feeling sick, not being able to open windows because of the smell and that the site was not taking their concerns seriously.
On sentencing, Judge Brasse said the case had involved “serious breaches” of the permit. However, he added that Hinkcroft had subsequently invested substantial amounts of money and that the risks of odour had now reduced.
EA oficer Jess Lockett says: “The smells from this site, and the company’s activities, adversely affected the quality of life for residents living nearby.
“Despite our attempts to remedy the problem through warning letters, meetings with the company and enforcement notices, the company demonstrated a blatant disregard for its permit conditions, the environment and the misery caused to local residents.” Hinkcroft Transport was unavailable for comment as CM went to press.