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Shropshire-based abattoir Euro Quality Lambs (EQL) has been hit with a £100,000 fine for breaching waste release levels into Severn Trent’s sewers early last year.
The family business based in Dale Street, Craven Arms, is a lamb and sheep abattoir capable of processing 15,000 carcasses a week.
Teams from Severn Trent’s waste business traced increased levels of phosphorus and ammonia found at Craven Arms sewage treatment works back to EQL’s site.
The fine was split between failed samples taken at the treatment works, with the judge deciding that phosphorus release was the biggest failure and awarding the highest fine, of £20,000, for this. He then fined two further failures of the same sample at £5,000 each. The second sample was categorised as reckless culpability, which resulted in a £70,000 fine, having taken three additional failed samples into consideration.
James Jesic, managing director of production at Severn Trent, said: “It’s important that we prosecute companies which seem to believe that legal limits on chemical release don’t apply to them.
“We have a duty to protect our treatment works, our customers and the environment and big fines such as this send out a clear message to any business contemplating doing something similar.”
Severn Trent was also awarded costs of more than £11,000.
The news follows Beronhill Ltd in Wolverhampton being fined £120,000 for illegally discharging chemicals into Severn Trent’s sewers.
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