News

Enviro-Strip GB Ltd, based in Wilnecote, Tamworth, pleaded guilty to charges of breaching limits for various substances, most notably phosphorous and zinc at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

The judge fined the company £2,400, with another £5,242 in costs, for its actions. 

The chemicals dumped into the sewers eventually ended up at Severn Trent’s sewage treatment works, where the company had to deal with the issue.

James Jesic, Managing Director of Production for Severn Trent, said: “While we’re happy with the outcome, it was extremely concerning that Enviro-Strip GB Ltd made these illegal discharges, time and again. 

“It’s absolutely vital that we take this sort of legal action to protect both our treatment works and also the environment, as well as recovering costs that, otherwise, our customers would have to bear.”

Phosphorous samples taken by Severn Trent in April 2018 were found to be more than seventy times the agreed limit for the firm. Zinc samples also taken in April 2018 recorded levels more than eight times the limit.

Higher than allowed levels of chemical discharges could lead to the sewage treatment works having to shut down, which is obviously not good for customers.  There’s also a knock-on effect that sludge produced at the works cannot be used for agricultural purposes and has to go to landfill, having a detrimental effect on the environment.