Firm fined for burning waste wood

A COMPANY has been fined £1650 for burning waste at its site in Loanhead.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Caledonian Industrial Limited, trading as Caleco Waste, admitted disposing of controlled waste by burning waste wood, including wooden pallets and wooden fencing, and contravening a condition of its waste management licence at Eldin Industrial Estate, Edgefield Road. A report was sent to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

Sepa officers were able to attend the site on December 9 and noted five fires in four separate areas of the site. A considerable plume of smoke was emitting from one which was both visible and odorous.

Simone O’Dowd, Sepa’s investigating officer, said: “Burning waste can have a detrimental effect upon the general amenity of the locality, caused by black smoke and ash deposits on cars and windows.

“Additionally there may be a risk to people in the vicinity, depending on where smoke travels and what is being burnt. We received numerous complaints from several different people.”