Heanor: Waste company fined £16,000 for cyanide leak

The liquid cyanide leaked out at Heanor Gate Industrial Estate

A waste company has been fined for causing liquid cyanide to leak from a truck at an industrial estate in Derbyshire.

 J&G Environmental Ltd pleaded guilty to causing the illegal water discharge in Heanor.

On 6 February 2018, the liquid escaped from a ruptured tank into nearby ponds, which is estimated by the Environment Agency to have killed hundreds of fish.

The firm was fined £16,000 at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday.

It was also ordered to pay an additional £52,500 in costs.

The Environment Agency said the container was ruptured at Heanor Gate Industrial Estate as the driver started moving it around, having borrowed a forklift truck.

Hundreds of litres of a liquid, which contained diluted cyanide, began to escape on to the floor before entering the drainage system and natural waterways.

The fire service cordoned off the area and ensured anyone involved in the incident was fully washed down.

'Serious pollution'

The Environment Agency prosecuted the company, estimating clear-up costs were approximately £50,000 after officers tried to stop the flow of water from nearby ponds.

Officers took samples of the dead fish, sending 73 off for testing. All were found to have died from cyanide poisoning.

The agency said Judge Michael Auty sentenced the company, based in Fareham, Hampshire, noting it had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty on 29 January.

It added the judge also took into account the efforts made by the company to ensure a similar incident was not repeated and its contributions to recycling and environmental welfare.

The agency said the judge commented it was unfortunate the driver had been unable to provide any detail of the nature of the liquid being transported and that the absence of personal protective equipment created a risk to its employees.

A spokesperson said: "We welcome this sentence as this was a serious pollution which caused considerable disruption besides fish deaths.

"The Environment Agency will pursue any company that fails to uphold the law or protect nature and will continue to press for the strongest possible penalties."