Hawke’s Bay company fined $ 11,900 for illegal burning

A Hawke’s Bay business has been fined $ 11,900 for illegally burning prohibited items.

The company started a fire that contained toxic elements such as plastic pipes, bottles, clearlite, and strapping, as well as particle board, painted wood, treated wood, insulation, a mattress, and polystyrene in 2019.

In Hasting District Court, the company pleaded guilty to dumping an air pollutant on Beach Rd, Tangoio, on October 9, 2019, and was sentenced and fined by Judge Melinda Dickey.

HBRC President Rex Graham said it is a pleasure to see pollution being taken seriously.

“I hope this fine will make other people stop and think before doing any illegal burning,” he said.

Earlier this year, another company was fined $ 12,555 for an illegal fire in Frimley, Hastings.

Pollution Response and Control Team Leader Mike Alebardi said HBRC is committed to enforcing rules that protect the health of the environment and the community.

“This type of non-compliance is unacceptable and we have shown that the regional council will continue these activities through the court if necessary,” he said.

“It is one of the strongest signals we can send to discourage others from burning prohibited items.”

Anyone with information on unauthorized releases to land, air, or water should contact HBRC’s 24/7 Pollution Hotline.