Tougher fines for Polluters.

Courts have been urged by the Environment Agency, to issue polluters with tougher fines. Latest statistics show that between 2007 and 2008, there was a 13% drop in oil and fuel leaks in the UK.  And a staggering 44% drop in major incidents since 2001.

The Environment Agency is asking for a higher fine to be used as a deterrent, as more and more businesses begin to comply with legislations.
 
Ed Mitchell, from the Environment Agency said "Major pollution incidents are rarer than ever due to tighter and more effective environmental legislation and efforts made by industry. We will continue to prosecute any company polluting the environment, and are encouraged to see that the courts are handing out larger fines for environmental offences. The Environment Agency would like to see even higher average fines in future to provide an even stronger deterrent to any one polluting the environment."

There are still businesses across the UK who are being fined for pollution linked with oil and petrol spills. Western Wines in Telford where fined £225,000 after failing to comply with the packaging waste regulation, this is the largest fined given to a business in the UK. This is closely followed by Mid Developments Ltd, in Ryton who were fined £97,000 after depositing waste without a license.

The Environment Agency have issued all businesses with a new 10 point checklist to ensure that they are operating without threat of an incident. Advice contained within the “Is Your Site Right?” handbook, covers storing oil and fuel, to safe handling and waste management.

Thankfully, the amount of spills, in England and Wales are on the decrease, as the clear up after a pollution incident can be a very costly procedure for the Government and subsequently, for taxpayers.  This plea for tighter fines is hoping to act as a deterrent for any future offences.

Members of the public who wish to report an incident can do so by calling the Environment Agency’s incident line on 0800 80 70 60.