Officers will visit 30 sites over the summer to remind operators that it is an offence to work without a waste management license, and persuade them to apply.
” Most of the sites have been keen to get a licence, often because they realise they can't buy scrap cars from major suppliers without it. “
– Lee Collins, Environment Agency
Lancashire Environment Agency officer Lee Collins told letsrecycle.com that so far the scheme, which began in May, is making progress.
He said: “We have targeted East Lancashire because there seemed to be a plethora of illegal sites in that area – we don't know why. But most of the sites have been keen to get a licence, often because they realise they can't buy scrap cars from major suppliers without it.”
Mr Collins explained that the one or two sites who had not complied faced legal action.
He said: “If sites still haven't applied for a license two months after the first visit we will visit the site again. They will then have ten day's before we put a case file together and probably prosecute.”
Tip offs
The illegal scrap yards were identified by the Agency from council lists, telephone directories and public tip-offs.
The sites pose a risk to environmental health, because without a waste management license they are not subject to tight operating standards such as the requirement to provide proper concrete surfacing, sealed drainage systems and acid resistant battery containers.
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Mr Collins said: “Scrap vehicles contain many environmental contaminants such as oil, battery acid and anti-freeze, which can cause pollution of the ground and have an adverse impact on water if not handled properly. As such they are required to be dealt with at licensed end of life sites approved by the Environment Agency.”
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