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16 November 2021
Recycling company fined £20,000 after SEPA investigation uncovers largest single illegal export of household waste from Scotland
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A leading UK and European recycling company was fined £20,000 at Airdrie Sheriff Court today (16 November 2021) after Scotland’s environmental regulator uncovered the largest single illegal export of household waste from Scotland.
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Saica Natur UK Limited pled guilty on 21 September 2021 at Airdrie Sheriff Court to transporting waste collected from households (code Y46) to China in contravention of Article 36(1) of the Waste Shipment Regulation (EC1013/2006) and Regulation 23 of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 (the Waste Shipment Regulations). Sentencing was deferred until 16 November.
The matter was investigated by SEPA and referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
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Terry A'Hearn gives SEPA statement on largest single illegal export of household waste from Scotland - You Tube
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The waste, which came from the company’s Croy facility, was wrongly described as waste paper and totalled around 1,300 tonnes. It was loaded inside 51 forty-foot shipping containers destined for recycling in China.
SEPA officers examining the bales of waste discovered electrical and electronic equipment, used nappies, sanitary towels, food contaminated packaging, food, dog excrement, wood, textiles, shoes, clothing, jewellery, aerosol cans, toys, glass, plastic food and drinks containers and cans.
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Terry A’Hearn, SEPA’s Chief Executive, said:
“SAICA Natur UK Limited has admitted to illegally exporting around 1,300 tons of household waste misdescribed as waste paper to an overseas country in direct contravention of regulations designed to protect the environment and communities. These actions also risk undermining Scotland’s efforts to recycle, as stories like this create doubt in the public’s mind that the recycling they put out for collection will be appropriately managed.
“I hope this prosecution serves as a warning to everyone that SEPA will not allow Scotland’s waste to become someone else’s environmental problem."
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