Three Leeds directors face waste crime charges

Jamie Michael Todd, Michael George Todd and Thomas Todd, who were all involved in running Leeds Paper Recycling Ltd, based at Valley Farm Road, Leeds, each face six charges relating to waste storage at two sites without the required environmental permits.

The three men were charged yesterday (April 29) by the Environment Agency as part of an ongoing investigation into unauthorised waste found in 2012 on Goole Docks and also in industrial units at Knostrop Depot, Old Mill Lane, Leeds. Attempts made by letsrecycle.com to contact the three men for comment were unsuccessful.

Investigations into Leeds Paper Recycling Ltd, which was placed into liquidation last week, are continuing. The firm now trades as Whitecase Limited, after the trading name Leeds Paper Recycling Limited and some of the business assets were sold to Rotherham-based WRD Group in April 2013. Jamie Todd has been retained by WRD Group as a business advisor. (see letsrecycle.com story).

Complaints

Residents and businesses complained about the waste on Goole Docks in Yorkshire following problems of odour and flies. Around 4,000 bales of household waste were found on the docks on land managed by cargo handling firm NW Trading. As a result, the Agency launched an investigation and the last of the bales were removed and taken to landfill in February 2013.

At the Knostrop Depot, two buildings were found to contain 17,000 bales of waste, which have caused similar problems of odour. Following the insolvency of Leeds Paper Recycling Ltd, the Environment Agency is in discussions with the landowner about how the waste might be removed from the Knostrop depot.

Louis Harvey, environment management team leader at the Environment Agency, said: These charges relate to significant amounts of household waste found at sites in West Yorkshire and East Riding. Waste of this nature can have a detrimental impact on the environment as well as local communities, so it is vital that companies know their responsibilities and adhere fully to waste management regulations.

Although we cannot comment in detail about this particular case at the present time, we can say that, where we believe waste crimes have been committed, the Environment Agency will actively investigate and take appropriate action. Anyone suspecting an incident of waste crime should contact the Environment Agencys Incident Hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

All three men were bailed to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on Tuesday 4 June.