The Environment Agency (EA) prosecuted two companies last week (5 September) for waste offences involving mixing drawing soap with compost, with the intention of spreading it on agricultural land.
Drawing soap, which consists mainly of calcium hydroxide and glycerol and is used as a lubricant, becomes contaminated with iron oxide in the process of drawing down steel wire. Classed as a hazardous waste, drawing soap is not allowed to be spread on agricultural land.
At a hearing at Lincoln’s Magistrates’ Court, waste management company Land Network pleaded guilty to three offences relating to running a waste site without the relevant permits, accepting hazardous waste without the relevant permit and illegally disposing of hazardous waste without the relevant permit. The offences all took place at the company’s Sturgate Airfield site, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, between June 2009 and February 2010.
Lincoln Electric (UK) Limited, which produced the waste from the drawing down of wire in the production of welding rods, was also prosecuted, after pleading guilty to failing to prevent Land Network from breaching its environmental permit.
Land Network was fined a total of £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,500, while Lincoln Electric was fined £1,000 and will pay costs of £12,500 for its offences.
Mixing hazardous waste a ‘serious risk’
Prosecuting for the EA, Mark Harris said: “This case concerns the acceptance of a hazardous waste with the intention of diluting it by mixing with compost for spreading on agricultural land. Composting is not an appropriate method of treating hazardous waste.”
Both Mark Watson and Roy Martin QC, representing Land Network and Lincoln Electric respectively, claimed the companies had relied on others for advice.
District Judge John Stobart said both companies were misdirected, or misdirected themselves, as to the status of the materials. “It was a potent mixture and fairly hazardous on any view”, he added.
Speaking of the prosecution, James Finch, Environment Agency Officer, commented: “We regard very seriously the mixing of hazardous waste to dilute it and will take action where appropriate. We hope that the outcome of this case alerts others to the risk of doing the same. This case also highlights the need to ensure that waste is handled properly.”
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