# Charities to share £2.2 million from breakers of environmental laws

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/11/26/charities-share-2-2m-breakers-environmental-laws/
- Published: 2018-11-26T09:09:04+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Fifteen environmental projects are to benefit from over £2million given in payments
by companies and individuals that have broken environmental laws.**

The money, a total of £2,223,121.54, from 15 [Enforcement Undertakings](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-environment-agencys-use-of-civil-sanctions/enforcement-undertakings-accepted-by-the-environment-agency)
is going to projects that benefit the environment including cleaning up and enhancing
parks, rivers and beaches. It comes from payments for environmental offences including
pollution of rivers or the sea, not meeting permit conditions or not taking reasonable
steps to recover packaging waste.

The payments include the Environment Agency’s largest ever financial contribution
of £975,000 offered by Wessex Water Services Limited for an environmental offence
involving sewage spills at Swanage in Dorset. These funds will benefit Dorset Waste
Partnership, which will receive £400,000, Dorset Litter Free Coast and Sea Project(
£100,000), Purbeck District Council/Swanage Town Council (£400,000) and Durlston
Country Park and Nature Reserve (£75,000).

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The other 14 payments range from £5,000 – £232,000, including:

 * United Utilities Water Limited – £232,000 benefitting [Mersey Rivers Trust](http://www.healthywaterwaystrust.org.uk/)(
   £90,000) and Community Forest Trust (£142,000) for discharging sewage into a 
   brook
 * Yorkshire Water Services Limited – £200,000 benefitting Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
   for polluting a river
 * Northumbrian Water Limited – £135,000 benefitting [Durham Wildlife Trust](https://durhamwt.com/)(
   £45,000), Wear Rivers Trust (£45,000), Marine Conservation Society (£45,000) 
   for polluting a stream

As well as making a payment to an appropriate charity or project, these companies
have accepted liability, demonstrated restoration of harm and will make improvements
to avoid future offences.

Peter Kellett, Director of Legal Services from the Environment Agency said:

> “When companies damage the environment whether it is through polluting our waters
> or breaching permit conditions, we will take enforcement action against them including
> civil sanctions.
> “We take these environmental incidents very seriously and these payments of more
> than £2.2 million direct to charities will help them carry out vital projects 
> to improve our environment right across England.”

Ellie Brodie, Senior Policy Manager, The Wildlife Trusts said:

> “Obviously, we would have been happier if these incidents hadn’t occurred at all.
> However, it’s a good principle that polluters should offer redress for the damage
> they cause. The money will enable work which will benefit wildlife and wild places,
> and which otherwise wouldn’t be funded. We hope these payments serve as a reminder
> to business of its responsibility towards a clean and healthy environment; and
> also have a deterrent effect as it’s clearly cheaper to do things cleanly, rather
> than risk creating pollution.”

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