Yorkshire vegetable grower and processor JE Hartley Ltd of Thorganby, which claims to be the largest supplier of frozen organic vegetables in the UK, has agreed to pay more than £23,000 to the Yorkshire Dales Rivers trust after an enforcement undertaking by the Environment Agency (EA).
Between March 2016 and February 2022, the company spread waste sludge from its anaerobic digestion plant without meeting the requirements of its permit. Under the conditions of the permit, the company must make an application each time it wishes to spread waste, to say where it intends to spread waste, what type of waste, how much and when. Every application must also include evidence to show that there is an agricultural benefit from the spreading of waste and must be approved by the EA.
Records showed that spreading took place every year from 2013 to 2021 in varying quantities from 2,664 to 10,530 tonnes. However, only four applications for spreading were made during this period and all were refused, needing additional information. It is estimated that the company avoided paying applications fees which ranged from £760 to £1,718 each time.
While no environmental harm has been identified from the spreading carried out by the company, Claire Barrow, area environment manager for North Yorkshire at the Environment Agency, stressed, ”It is vital that companies are aware of their environmental obligations. In this case JE Hartley Limited recognised that they had failed to comply with their environmental permit and we deemed it appropriate to accept an Enforcement Undertaking offer, which ensured that all avoided application costs were donated to a project that will enhance, restore and protect England’s natural environment.
”In some circumstances, Enforcement Undertakings can achieve a good resolution of our enforcement action, allowing the offender to put things right and help to improve our environment. This payment of £23,640 will do just that by supporting the work of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.
”The offer from JE Hartley Limited outlined that it will revise its land spreading procedures and not spread without permissions