Alloa-based Oran Environmental Solutions (OES) Ltd was yesterday ordered to return £345,558 in proceeds from its activities – the largest result under the Proceed of Crime Act – in addition to fines totalling £12,000 for waste-related offences.
According to Companies House, the company officially dissolved on 12 January via a compulsory strike off. The company had until 2014 held a contract with Falkirk council and operated a number of waste transfer stations in the county.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said the confiscation order sent out a ‘clear and unequivocal’ message that environmental crime will not be tolerated.
The Proceeds of Crime Act recovers the financial benefit made by those undertaking criminal activity. In addition to the confiscation, OES Ltd was fined for three charges of non-compliance at its Kilbagie site to which it pleaded guilty on 16 February last year.
Complaints
SEPA had received numerous complaints from local residents regarding vermin, birds and flies at the facility in 2013.
While inspecting the site, SEPA found that OES Ltd was using an unlicensed area to store additional waste. According to the Agency, the main site was already at capacity and as a result existing stockpiles had begun to be stored outside the licensed boundaries.
After the firm failed to comply with two Enforcement Notices served in May 2013 requiring it to cease accepting waste and also to remove the stockpiles, SEPA partially suspended the site’s licence.
Further enforcement action was also taken to ensure that waste on unlicensed areas of the site was removed.
OES Ltd pleaded guilty to charges of failing to remove waste from its Kilbagie Mill site following enforcement action by SEPA, storing controlled waste on land not covered by a Waste Management Licence, and failing to carry out adequate pest control measures at the facility.
Calum MacDonald, SEPA’s executive director, said: “This sends out a clear and unequivocal message that environmental crime will not be tolerated and that SEPA will with its partners pursue those who seek to profit from waste crime.
“Compliance within the waste industry is non-negotiable and we will continue to take effective and proportionate action as required to tackle non-compliant waste operators. The confiscation order reflects the costs avoided by the company in undertaking these illegal activities and is the result of close collaborative working arrangements between SEPA and the Crown Office.”
Carron Works
In 2013, OES pleaded guilty to breaches of its license conditions at its former Carron Works waste transfer station following complaints from members of the public (see letsrecycle.com story).
letsrecycle.com was unable to reach Oran for comment.
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