Environment Agency investigations into waste offences across Lincolnshire have secured £168,000 for a local charity.
The money, which was donated as part of Enforcement Undertakings, will be used by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to support nature recovery and deliver environmental benefits across Lincolnshire.
An Enforcement Undertaking is an alternative sanction to prosecution or monetary penalty for dealing with certain environmental offences.
It is a legally-binding voluntary agreement proposed by a business (or an individual) when the Environment Agency has reasonable grounds to suspect that an environmental offence has occurred.
Three companies agreed to Enforcement Undertakings after investigations found they dumped waste without authorisation at Hook Cliff Farm, Grantham.
£60,000 was paid by Bowring Transport Limited after an investigation found the company had deposited construction and demolition waste without authorisation at the farm location.
£26,000 was paid by Construction & Environmental Services Limited after an investigation found it had deposited construction and demolition waste without authorisation.
£12,000 came from Earthborn Transport Limited of Rectory Road, West Bridgford, who deposited construction and demolition waste without authorisation.
Fox (Owmby) Limited was found to have deposited mixed waste without authorisation at a separate location, a camping and caravan park in Lincolnshire, and paid £40,000.
Crockway Farms Limited was ordered to pay £30,000 after committing a water offence following a slurry discharge from a pig unit, which spread to nearby land and into a drainage ditch.
Commenting on the payments, Laura Richardson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire Area, said: “While we continue to prosecute and sanction the most serious offences, Enforcement Undertakings allow companies to put right what went wrong and channel money directly into the environment.”
“This figure of £168,000 will be invested back into the local area to enhance the environment, delivering real benefits for people and wildlife.”
The Environment Agency said all offenders also made contributions to its costs and have carried out actions to stop offending, prevent a recurrence or restore any harm.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has used previous enforcement undertaking funding to support conservation projects across Lincolnshire.
Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, commented: “Where enforcement action does secure investment, it is important that those funds are invested directly into nature recovery across Lincolnshire.”
“This contribution will help us deliver practical conservation work that benefits wildlife and local communities, supporting the recovery and resilience of habitats across our rivers, coasts and countryside.”