Company fined thousands for polluting river

Philip Halling/Geograph A river with trees and bushes on the right and grass fields on the left. Philip Halling/Geograph
The company was ordered to pay a fine of £2,666 plus other costs

A specialist packing company has been ordered to pay out nearly £9,000 for polluting a river with bleach.

Liquipak Ltd, based in Huddersfield, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court on 9 January and pleaded guilty to an illegal discharge of bleach.

More than 800 dead fish were found in the River Colne along with insects that live in water.

Environment Agency officer Peter Kirton said: "Companies have a responsibility to ensure their activities do not have serious environmental impacts."

Liquipak Ltd admitted the illegal discharge, which happened after a wooden pallet collapsed and contaminated the waterway in Huddersfield.

The court heard that the company was remorseful and that it was an unfortunate accident.

The court was also told that the company had since introduced new procedures for its containers and had obtained a drainage plan to avoid it happening again.

Liquipak had to pay a fine of £2,666.67 after being given credit for an early guilty plea. They were also liable for the prosecution costs and victim surcharge, bringing the total amount to £8,973.67.

'Thorough investigation'

The Environment Agency received a report of dead fish in the River Colne in 2021 and officers then traced the source to Liquipak.

The company said there had been a spillage of bleach inside the warehouse.

The bleach went down a manhole cover inside the warehouse, but the company did not report it, as it was thought the manhole led to a sewer.

While the court agreed the incident was negligent, it accepted there were mitigating circumstances including that the company co-operated fully with the investigation and carried out a clean-up.

The court accepted the offence was not commercially motivated.

Mr Kirton added: "We carried out a thorough investigation into this pollution incident and the company has since taken steps to ensure there is no recurrence in future."

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