Dive summary:

• Waste and recycling company, Doonin Plant Limited has received Scotland’s largest to date fine for environmental crimes.
• The £200,000 fine, $324,096, was for keeping hundreds of tons tires, plastics, and e-waste at a site without a leachate collection system or landfill gas extraction system.
• The results of the improper disposal have been called the worst environmental crime to date in Scotland.

From the article:

The charges also related to the likelihood of landfill gas being produced and venting freely to air, causing offensive odour and resulting in the release to atmosphere of methane and carbon dioxide, thereby impacting on local and global air quality;

Sentencing of director Gary Doonin was deferred for one year with the Sheriff warning that any further offences, during that time, could lead to a custodial sentence.

SEPA added that the conviction and sentencing follow a number of previous convictions of Doonin Plant Limited, in respect of environmental offences, which also resulted in penalties including a £90,000 fine in 2010 for waste offences. ...