Haulage company fined after oil spill

A company from Norfolk has been fined £10,000 after a vehicle liquid spill polluted a nearby lagoon. DJ Taylor who is based in Downham Market, Norfolk, admitted liability for causing the spill, which contained vegetable oil and vehicle wash detergents from its work site.

The Environment Agency brought the charge against the company to King’s Lynn Magistrates Court, where they were fined for breaching the Environmental permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

Company staff had apparently not been trained in the correct oil disposal techniques and had just been disposing of oil contaminated water to the surface drains on the work site. The haulage company who operate 12 HGVs and have 10 trailers have now stopped washing the trucks on site.

Since the incident they have also installed two bulk storage tanks, to collect any contaminated water before it is sent away for treatment. The company were also fined in excess of £4,000 at the hearing for the costs of bringing the case against them.