A Huddersfield company has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling almost £9,000 after it polluted a river with bleach and killed hundreds of fish.
Specialist packing company Liquipak Ltd appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court on 9 January 2025, where it pleaded guilty to an illegal discharge of bleach.
The court heard that in September 2021 the bleach, sodium hypochlorite, escaped after a wooden pallet collapsed. The spilt bleach was flushed into surface water drains which discharge into the River Holme where it meets the River Colne in Huddersfield.
Over 800 dead fish were counted 3kms downstream in the River Colne, as well as dead aquatic invertebrates, such as insects that live in water.
In mitigation the court heard the company was deeply remorseful and that it was an unfortunate accident. The court also heard the company had introduced new handling procedures for its containers and had obtained a drainage plan.
The company was ordered to pay a fine of £2666.67 after being given credit for an early guilty plea in addition to a victim's surcharge and prosecution costs bringing the total amount to £8,973.67.
Environment Agency Environment Officer Peter Kirton said: "Companies have a responsibility to ensure their activities do not have serious environmental impacts".
"I'’s important they understand their site drainage and the difference between surface and foul drains".
"We carried out a thorough investigation into this pollution incident and the company has since taken steps to ensure there is no recurrence in future".
