MV Recycling (UK) Ltd must pay £30,400 after attempting to illegally export plastics contaminated with household waste.
The company’s Director, Noormohammed Master, was caught trying to pass off waste plastic heavily contaminated with household waste and electrical goods as ‘Green List’ material, which is considered a lower risk to the environment.
An Environment Agency officer said the case involved the ‘worst contaminated material’ he had ever seen.
The Lancashire-based company pleaded guilty to three charges related to the illegal export of plastic waste and was ordered to pay £30,400 in fines and prosecution costs.
MV Recycling entered into a business agreement with companies in Turkey to carry out the illegal scheme.
After obtaining waste from other businesses in the UK, the company was caught attempting to transport containers contaminated with electricals and mixed household waste, including sanitary products and nappies.
Master claimed on the official paperwork accompanying the waste that it was clean, uncontaminated plastics, also known as ‘Green List’ waste.
All the offences were committed in 2019, with one case involving 11 shipping containers that were loaded with waste at a recycling facility in Kent and transported to Felixstowe, where inspections found the contamination, and it was denied export.
During a search of selected waste bales, more contaminants were removed from within them, including tin, paper, card, textiles, plastic and wood, and household waste.
MV Recycling did not disclose the source of the waste, with the Environment Agency believing some originated from France.
Commenting on the case, Joanna Larmour, Deputy Director of the National Environmental Crime Unit, said: “MV Recycling (UK) Ltd showed a complete disregard for the legislation in place to protect the environment and communities, flouting the law and ignoring warnings. They continued to carry out their plans, offending three times in one year.”
The Environment Agency says MV Recycling (UK) Ltd has since changed its business model, moved premises, and has remained compliant since committing the offences.
