Manchester waste firm fined for shipping contaminated plastic to be burnt

The rubbish was contaminated despite the firm claiming it was "clean"

A waste management firm which exported plastic contaminated with rubbish including oil cannisters and nappies to be recycled has been fined £870,000.

Manchester-based Roydon Resource Recovery Ltd was found guilty of unlawfully shipping the waste to Poland while claiming it was "clean plastic".

Company director Wilfred Sumner was also fined at Manchester Crown Court.

He had gained "significant financial advantage" from the move, the Environment Agency said.

The director had pleaded guilty to illegally shipping the ten containers of waste, which the agency said was intended to be burnt as fuel, "with no intention of recycling".

Most of the plastic was not suitable for reuse, while much of it had been contaminated with household and other rubbish, the agency said.

Mr Sumner was hit with a £10,000 fine while his firm was ordered to pay £870,000.

Roydon, which is based in Swinton, is part of a group of recycling companies of which Mr Sumner is a director.

Emma Viner of the Environment Agency said they had shown a "disregard for legislation in place to protect our environment and communities".

"Officers work tirelessly to tackle this type of criminality and the outcome of this prosecution sends a strong message to those involved in waste crime."

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