Waste firms fined for burning refuse

Grantscope Ltd and RG Wastecare Ltd both ran skip hire services from a site on the town’s Boulder Bridge Lane, Barnsley, and were investigated by the Environment Agency after complaints.

Fires were seen in skips on several dates in March and April 2010 and a joint operation with police led to the directors of the firms being arrested and charged.

During a hearing at Barnsley magistrates court on Wednesday at which all charges were admitted, the firms were handed their fines and ordered to pay costs totalling £15,076.

Director of the companies Dean Ryder, of Doncaster Road, Barnsley, was also fined £5,000 and John Clifford, of Lewis Road, Lundwood, Barnsley, who was an employee of RG Wastecare Ltd, was fined £200.

Speaking after the case Environment Agency officer Brad Haystead said: “Our officers spend a lot of time and effort working with operators but in cases like this where there is deliberate serious offending we’ll use our enforcement powers to take action.”