Northallerton Watchlist 72
The Site
A site at Northallerton, Yorkshire registered waste exemptions for the treatment and storage of waste toner cartridges. Enforcement officers visited watchlist site 72 in January 2023 and subsequently found that the operators were not complying with the requirements of the exemptions.
The problem
As a result, the exemptions were revoked, the operator was instructed to cease all waste activities and remove the waste to a suitably permitted facility.
Despite regulatory notices requiring the waste to be removed being served, the operator failed to do so.
In terms of potential environmental impact from the waste on site, no engineered site drainage has been observed, and a small watercourse runs at the southern border of the site, 4 to 5 m away.
The action we've taken
We conducted a full investigation into the waste activities carried out at the site and the suspected failure to comply with a regulatory notice requiring the removal of waste. In December 2025, we began criminal proceedings against 2 individuals and one company. The criminal case is ongoing.
The company involved has pleaded guilty and has since been sentenced, receiving a fine and costs totalling £4,740.00. One individual has been sentenced receiving a fine. A second individual has changed their plea to guilty and will be sentenced in November 2026.
There has been a high level of interest in this case, with the Chief Executive himself receiving correspondence and interest expressed from the elected MP for the constituency.