A pollution incident at its site in Derby’s Sinfin Lane has cost chemical company Reckitt Benckiser £460,000, made up of £300,000 to prevent a recurrence, £150,000 to the East Mercia Rivers Trust, a charity formed by the merger of Welland Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, and more than £10,000 to cover Environment Agency costs.
The pollution, said to be 130 times more polluting than untreated sewage, involved an escape of aerosol production trade effluent into the Cuttle Brook as it flowed through Sinfin golf course, causing the death of more than 400 fish and a prolific growth of sewage fungus.
The effluent was found to be seeping out of the bank of the brook within the site. It also resulted in low oxygen levels. The company took prompt action to stop the polluting discharge and investigate the cause. It had stopped by the following day.
Paul Chambers, Environment Officer for the Environment Agency said: “Enforcement Undertakings allow polluters to positively address and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents.
“The Environment Agency will consider acceptance of Enforcement Undertakings submitted for suitable cases to restore the environment, improve practices of the offending company and avoid longer criminal court cases. However, we will prosecute in appropriate cases.
“As well as donations totalling £150,000 to East Mercia Rivers Trust that will bring great benefits to the environment, Reckitt Benckiser has made significant improvements to the Sinfin Lane site drainage system, and particularly its trade effluent pipework.
Rachel Butler, Executive Director at East Mercia Rivers Trust said: “The donation from Reckitt Benckiser has directly contributed towards a major river restoration project as part of East Mercia River Trust’s ambition to restore the Upper Witham landscape at scale.
“An important limestone river, this watercourse forms the headwaters of the Witham catchment and is home to white-clawed crayfish and brown trout amongst other native flora and fauna.”
