Pat Munro (Alness) was issued with the Variable Monetary Penalty (VMP) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in relation to the disposal of controlled waste at Caplich Quarry, Alness, between April 2018 and February 2024.
SEPA said satellite imagery examined during its investigation showed significant changes to the site over the six-year period.
In April 2018, much of the former quarry area was filled with water. Subsequent imagery showed the area being progressively infilled until very little water remained.
As part of the investigation, SEPA officers required trial pits to be excavated at the site.
Controlled waste was found to have been disposed of to a depth of up to three metres. The material included soil, stone, plastic, timber, metal, glass and road plannings.
SEPA said there was no waste management licence in place authorising the activity.
LiDAR technology was also used to assess the scale of the infilling, with SEPA estimating that 20,000 tonnes of waste had been deposited above the previous water level.
Calum McGregor, Unit Manager of SEPA’s Environmental Crime Team, said: “Controlled waste was used to progressively fill a former pond at this site over almost six years without the environmental authorisation required.
“Businesses that handle waste have a responsibility to understand which authorisations they need and to have them in place before activity starts.
“Our investigation established both the scale of the activity and what had been disposed of at the site. This penalty reflects the seriousness of failing to comply with waste regulations and sends a clear message that SEPA will take action where those requirements are not complied with.
“Scotland’s waste regulations are designed to protect our environment and legitimate businesses. We expect operators to comply with them.”
A VMP is a discretionary financial penalty which SEPA can impose for relevant environmental offences following an appropriate investigation.
The regulator said VMPs sit alongside other enforcement tools, including advice and guidance, final warning letters, regulatory notices, Fixed Monetary Penalties and reports to the Procurator Fiscal.
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