FARMERS PRODUCING biodiesel could be hit with unforeseen costs imposed on them by the Environment Agency, according to one Kent-based biodiesel producer.

Doug Wanstall of Bank Farm, Aldington, started processing used cooking oil into biodiesel just over a year ago.

He was told by the Environment Agency that a Waste Management Licence would be sufficient.

But at the end of July this year, the agency arrived at Mr Wanstall‘s farm and told him he had to stop production or pay more than £2500 for another type of licence.

The agency said he needed an Integrated Pollution Prevention Control licence that would cost £2599 with a renewal fee of £403, payable every year until the licence was surrendered.

Mr Wanstall has now ceased production of biodiesel until he has established whether it is worthwhile him re-starting the operation.

He doubts whether the 2000 litres a week he processes is enough to justify the cost to his business.

“I‘d need to more than double the volume to something like 8000 litres a week to make it worthwhile,” he said.

Bryony Worthington, a climate change campaigner at Friends of the Earth, described the action taken by the EA as “utterly ridiculous”.

“This is a complete lack of joined-up thinking on the government‘s part, especially as they‘re about to introduce a policy on biofuels,” said Ms Worthington.

The British Association for Biofuels and Oils added that it had recently written to the EA requesting it adopts a more pragmatic approach to the legislation.

“We have written to the chairman of the EA asking him in no uncertain terms to put a stop to this nonsense,” said Peter Clery, chief executive of BABFO.

And Richard Boden of green campaigners Wyecycle said that other small-scale producers were being frustrated by the EA‘s actions.

“We would like to see a change in legislation to accommodate the smaller producer and a progressive charging system that doesn‘t penalise the small guy,” Mr Boden said.