Cab firm's £5k dumped waste bill

A Wrexham taxi firm has been ordered to pay £5,000 after waste from its premises was found at a beauty spot.

Cerbydau Cymru paid a scrap metal dealer £150 to dispose of the waste, but it was found on Minera Mountain, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The company admitted failing to take reasonable steps to prevent pollution, ensuring the waste went to a licensed site and failing to keep records.

Mold Crown Court heard that the waste included oil drums and other items.

The company was fined £1,500 with £3,500 costs.

Potential damage

John Wyn Williams, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said there was no environmental damage, but the potential was there.

Judge John Rogers said the company had no relevant previous convictions and he took into account that it did not actually dump the waste.

The court heard how the rubbish was immediately traced to the taxi firm because of invoices and paper work found, along with out-of-date licence plates.

Mr Wyn Williams said the agency had not been able to trace who dumped the waste.

However, Paul Abrahams, defending, said the company paid a scrap dealer £150 to dispose of the waste, the dealer was easily traceable and he was surprised only the taxi firm had been prosecuted.

The offences had been committed in complete ignorance, he said, and the company was disgusted by what happened.