Dundee among sites flagged up after firm breached waste permit

A criminal investigation is under way after hundreds of tonnes of waste from NHS hospitals, including human body parts, was allowed to pile up by a disposal company.

Healthcare Environmental Services has been found to be in breach of permits at four of its six sites in England which deal with clinical waste and a criminal investigation has been launched, the Environment Agency said.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) also confirmed it issued enforcement notices at sites in Dundee and Shotts last month, where its officers are conducting “ongoing monitoring”.

“The Environment Agency has found Healthcare Environmental Services to be in breach of its environmental permits at four sites which deal with clinical waste,” a spokesman said yesterday. “We are taking enforcement action against the operator, which includes clearance of the excess waste and have launched a criminal investigation.

“We are supporting the Government and the NHS to ensure there is no disruption to public services and for alternative plans to be put in place.” He said the breaches relate to the company having more waste on its sites than its permits allow and storing waste inappropriately.

Healthcare Environmental Services said the UK had experienced “reduced incineration capacity” over the last year, which it had repeatedly highlighted to authorities.

A Sepa spokesman said: “Sepa is aware of developments in England and is working closely with the Environment Agency.