Waste Firm and Director found Guilty on Ten Charges

A waste firm and one its directors were today, Tuesday 21 August, found guilty of a total of ten charges (five charges each) at Teesside Crown Court according to the Environment Agency (UK)

The court heard that Albert Hill Skip Hire and Raymond Anthony Shepherd as an officer of the company illegally operated, without an environmental permit, a regulated facility as a waste transfer station at Whessoe Road, Darlington between July 2008 to May 2010 and also illegally operated a regulated facility, as a waste transfer station between July 2008 to April 09 at Dodsworth Street, The Old Steel Yard.

Once a permit had been granted on the Dodsworth Street site, the parties then operated outside the conditions of the permit between September 2009 and August 2010.

Graeme Hull of the Environment Agency said: “The environmental permit was in place to minimise any risk of pollution to the environment. In breaching the permit the company and Raymond Anthony Shepherd showed a blatant disregard for the environment and the law.

“We hope this court case shows that people who seek to maximise their profits at the expense of the environment and ignore advice and guidance can expect to be investigated and prosecuted.

“The Environment Agency wants to make sure serious waste crime doesn’t pay. We have both specialist and local crime teams set up to catch criminals and we take these offences very seriously.”

The Environment Agency also worked closely with Darlington Borough Council and the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

Sentences will be handed down at a later date.