EPA Prosecutes Brivin Enterprises
Brivin Enterprises Limited, trading as Westside Waste pleaded guilty to six offences under the Waste Management Acts 1996 - 2003 in Kilcock District Court on 23 November 2004 for breaches of its waste licence (Reg. No. 162-1).
In operating a waste transfer station with an annual throughput of 30,000 tonnes per annum at Blacklion, Dublin Road, Maynooth, the company admitted failing to
- install infrastructure prior to the acceptance of waste,
- build and maintain a waste transfer building,
- provide a concrete surface skip storage area,
- install appropriate infrastructure for the collection of all wastewater discharges from the facility,
- provide and maintain a civic waste facility prior to the commencement of waste activities and
- process waste indoors as required.
The absence of the required infrastructure resulted in the activity being carried on outdoors, increasing the potential for pollution to air, water and ground. Waste stored on bare ground increased the risk of leachate entering groundwater. Run-off water from the site was not collected thus risking contamination of a small stream adjoining the eastern boundary of the site. The waste activities, including truck movements, loading/unloading of skips and the tipping of waste from a height caused a considerable noise nuisance to local residents. Dust emissions were also significant.
This is the second successful prosecution the EPA has taken against this company in 2004, the first of which was heard on 12 January 2004 and which related to similar offences.
In each instance, the investigations into the alleged offences arose from both complaints from members of the public and planned site visits conducted by OEE enforcement officers.
Solicitors acting on behalf of the company stated that the facility had now closed and that the activity was no longer causing any pollution. Judge Brophy stated that, if the company could not maintain compliance with the conditions of its waste licence it should have shut down following its previous conviction in January 2004.
The maximum fine of €3,000 was imposed in respect of Charge one, with fines of €500 imposed on each of the remaining five charges. The Agency’s costs of €4,550 were also awarded.
The Company was granted a waste licence on 17th February 2003, for the acceptance of commercial, construction and demolition waste and also waste from domestic sources. The facility is situated on a .55ha site, 1km east of Maynooth Town and consists of a partially concreted yard where waste arriving in skips is sorted into its recyclable components, with the residual waste being sent to landfill.