The Environment Agency has taken swift action to suspend the environmental permit of a waste facility near Chichester, effective immediately. Twyford Recycling Limited, a tyre recycling plant located on Twyford Avenue, is now legally barred from bringing any type of waste onto its premises following a site inspection that uncovered significant fire and pollution concerns.
The suspension follows a visit by Environment Agency officers on Thursday, 18th June, during which a number of critical issues were identified. These included inadequate measures to prevent fires and a substantial risk of both water and air pollution. The facility is permitted to import, deposit, and treat end-of-life tyres, with the processed material typically used in engineering projects.
Officers specifically noted that waste tyres were being stored outside of properly constructed bays, which would severely hinder efforts to tackle and extinguish a fire. Furthermore, the site was found to have insufficient accessible fire water, compounding the danger. A potential fire at the location could see smoke emissions carried by prevailing winds towards the A27 and Chichester, posing risks to both the environment and public health.
Beyond the immediate fire hazard, serious concerns were raised regarding potential water pollution. The Environment Agency highlighted the risk that water run-off from firefighting operations could contaminate the nearby River Lavant. There were also worries about the potential for groundwater pollution from general run-off on the site.
In response to these findings, Twyford Recycling Limited has been ordered to remove all loose, shredded, and baled tyres from the site to eliminate the identified pollution risks. This crucial action must be completed by 6pm on 2nd July. Contravention of any requirements outlined in the suspension notice is a criminal offence.
Michael Turner, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, emphasised the organisation's commitment to tackling non-compliant waste sites. He stated that the agency intervenes swiftly to shut down operations when rules are broken, as demonstrated with Twyford Recycling. Mr Turner confirmed that the operator has been firmly instructed to cease accepting waste and to mitigate pollution risks before they negatively impact the community and environment. This action formed part of a broader waste enforcement operation, which also involved roadside stops of vehicles entering and leaving the site, a common method for gathering intelligence on waste movements and potential waste crime.