Company boss fined over Afghanistan waste

THE boss of a Bradford-based electrical recycling company has been convicted of illegally shipping old computers and other waste to Afghanistan.

Naveed Sohail was yesterday convicted at Bradford Magistrates’ Court of four counts of illegally storing and shipping hazardous waste after a two-day trial.

The 44-year-old, of Catergear Mill, Thornbury Road, Bradford, who had represented himself, was fined £1,000 for each of the four offences and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £8,200.

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Louise Azmi, prosecuting counsel for the Environment Agency, told the court Sohail was a director of Quest International Trading Ltd (“Quest”), based at Catergear Mill, which collected electronic and electrical equipment for export, specialising in second-hand computer monitors, stands and hard drives. The company also carried out minor repairs.

In July 2009, Environment Agency officers provided Sohail with advice on exporting electrical items and the permits he might need, raising concerns about the ways items were being packaged inside a container. Sohail told the officers his company did not purchase electrical waste and he would reject anything damaged in transit.

But on 1 September 2009, a container was returned to Quest after checks identified the contents as electrical waste. It had been on its way to Afghanistan.

Miss Azmi said the Environment Agency tested 42 items from the container and found 29 to be broken. Sohail denied dealing in waste.