The Manchester-based fridge collection and storage company, and its director Robert Bulcock, had pleaded guilty at a hearing at Oldham Magistrates' Court in July (see letsrecycle.com story), but the sentencing was adjourned until this week.
Four charges against Britannia were brought by the Environment Agency concerning incidents which took place between February 2000 and November 2002. Britannia had been unable to provide records showing where ozone-depleting gases from its fridges had been sent.
Waste transfer notes, which are legally required for the movement of waste between companies, were not completed properly or signed, the Environment Agency said. A further charge related to 3,500 fridges being stored on an unlicensed site.
The court heard that by failing to have CFC gases properly disposed of, Britannia would have saved more than 15,000. The court also heard that the company had received about 87,000 for storing the waste fridges.
As well as the fines, Britannia was also ordered to pay costs to the Environment Agency of 3,019.58, and Mr Bulcock costs of 754.90.
Speaking after the hearing, the Environment Agency's regional solicitor Steven Zdolyny said: “Waste fridges pose a significant threat to the environment, and this company still has about 300,000 of them in the Manchester area awaiting disposal.
“The Environment Agency is responsible for ensuring companies store and dispose of waste fridges safely. This case shows the Agency will not hesitate to prosecute any company that fails to take its environmental responsibilities seriously, or profits at the expense of the environment.”
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