Murfitts Denies Environment Agency Charge

During a hearing held at Ely Magistrates’ Court on November 16, Murfitts Industries Ltd pleaded not guilty to keeping, treating or disposing of waste in a manner likely to cause pollution. The Environment Agency brought this charge against the company following a fire at its tyre recycling plant near Littleport, East Cambridgeshire in August 2009.

The Environment Agency was notified of the fire, which burned for a total of seven weeks, on the afternoon of August 21, 2009. When officers from the agency arrived at the seen they observed a plume of smoke being blown across farmland and away from Littleport. Environment Agency consultants sampled air beneath the plume of smoke and found no detectable levels of toxin.

Murfitts stores and treats waste tyres under an environmental permit at Wisbech, Littleport road. At the Magistrates’ Court hearing the company elected to have a Crown Court trial.