Abattoir dumps waste in woodland

1 February 2001



Abattoir dumps waste in woodland

By Robert Davies

ONE of the leading abattoir operators in Wales has been fined 35,000 for dumping slaughterhouse waste in a private woodland.

Oriel Jones and Son, based at Llanybydder in Dyfed, was also convicted by Carmarthen magistrates of polluting a tributary of the Afon Duar river.

The court heard that the firm obtained an Environmental Agency licence to spread waste at Llygad Enwyn Farm, on which the abattoir is sited.

But, following a complaint by a member of the public, officers found material coating a hedge and branches of trees in adjoining private woodland.

Some days later, the Afon Duar was found to be contaminated with blood.

The defendants were fined a total of 30,000 on two counts of polluting the river in December 1999 and February 2000.

They were also fined 5000 for dumping abattoir waste on woodland without a licence in December 1999, and ordered to pay 1917 costs.