Midlands abattoir fined over waste

- Published: 12 November, 2009

A case held at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 4 November saw Birmingham Halal Abattoir ordered to pay out a fine, following a prosecution by Severn Trent Water for breach of trade effluent consent in a Severn Trent sewer network.

Severn Trent waste water services director Simon Cocks said: “Wherever possible, we aim to work with our business customers by providing support and recommendations to ensure they can manage their effluent levels correctly. Rather than having to take action in court, we would prefer to work together to prevent any breaches of effluent consent occurring. In this case, the company had previously been notified of our concerns and had been given the opportunity to improve.

“As well as risking damage to the environment, breaches of consent levels can damage the sewer network and the treatment works, which our customers pay for, so it is important that we take action to recover costs where possible.”

On 12 June 2007, commercial waste technicians noticed a dark red discharge, as a result of illegal effluent from the abattoir.