Dyehouse fined for operating without environmental permit

The operators of an illegal textile dyehouse, based in a residential area of Leicester, have been fined almost £60,000 in fines and costs.

Euro Dyers Ltd pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 25 July 2018 to two charges of operating without an environmental permit and was ordered to pay a fine of £40,000, costs of £19,084 and a £175 victim surcharge.

The company operated from Saffron Works, Saffron Lane, and had been told on numerous occasions that it required an environmental permit. It had been warned several times by the Environment Agency, which even tried to help it with the application. However, a permit was never successfully applied for.

Magistrates heard that such a permit would have introduced conditions to manage odour, regulate emissions to air and sewer, the generation of waste, noise pollution and the prevention of accidents. Specifically, the latter would have been important as Agency inspections found flammable liquids stored on top of oxidising chemicals and chemicals stored with no method of containment to control leaks. Wastewater was also discovered leaking into a roadside drain outside.

An investigating Environment Agency officer commented: “Despite several attempts to assist the company, and after numerous warnings, this company still refused to be brought into the permitting regime. We hope that this fine will serve as a warning to them and others in the industry that there are strong penalties if they flout the law.

“This is great news to the residents who live nearby, the environment and to competitors who do the right thing and comply with the law.”

The Environment Agency has also recommended that dyehouse operators across England who do not currently hold an environmental permit should proactively assess the capacity of their sites to check whether they need one. Any above the threshold of 10 tonnes per day should contact the Agency for advice and guidance on how to apply.