Biomass firm fined £14,000 over ‘pollution risk’

A wood biomass company has been ordered to pay £14,000 after one of its waste wood stores in Hull caused a “pollution risk”. Stobart Biomass Products was in court over […]

A wood biomass company has been ordered to pay £14,000 after one of its waste wood stores in Hull caused a “pollution risk”.

Stobart Biomass Products was in court over its waste transfer operation at Albert Dock in Hull where it was storing waste wood chips in 2011 and 2012 for the waste-to-energy industry.

The Environment Agency said it had given the firm guidance to ensure the stored wood wouldn’t cause any problems to communities and the environment however, dust from the wood piles “was not being prevented from being blown onto nearby areas during high winds in dry conditions”.

Local residents were said to have reported about dust being blown onto their properties, windows and cars.

A pile of woodchip and household waste were also situated close to the dockside that some of it was falling into the water, posing a risk to the Humber Estuary, the Environment Agency said.

Joanne Holt, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency said: “Waste management operations can potentially cause many problems to the local environment and neighbourhood – that’s why it is vital that companies ensure they meet all of their environmental obligations.”

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