SITA UK Ltd was fined for breaching the conditions of its environmental permit and for failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice for its landfill site at Albury Landfill, Albury, Nr Guildford, Surrey.
SITA UK Ltd had exceeded the landfill site's leachate limit set out in its environmental permit which is granted by the Environment Agency. During 2013 there were 8 leachate wells that were non-compliant with the permit requirement of a maximum leachate level of 3 metres above the base.
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Redhill Magistrates Court heard how the type of waste deposited at the Landfill will degrade and produce both gas and leachate. In order to reduce the risk of leachate escaping the site and polluting the groundwater, the Landfill is lined with an engineered system on the base consisting of clay overlain by a plastic liner. The clay extends across the base of each cell and up the side slope to a level of three metres above the base, with only the plastic liner rising higher.
The court heard how SITA UK Ltd had continued non-compliance of its leachate levels despite ongoing guidance and support from Environment Agency officers.
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