A company created to help the environment by producing an alternative fuel source allowed polluting oils to seep into the water system in Birmingham, a court heard.
Arshad Mehmood, the owner of Britannia Biodiesel Oils, admitted disposing of waste oils in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment.
Nicholas Cole, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court for the Environment Agency, said in March 2007, as part of a survey, it was discovered that an oily white substance was being discharged into Washwood Heath Brook, an inner-city watercourse which had also been polluted from other sources.
The discharge was traced through a drain back to a manhole cover outside the defendant’s biodiesel plant in Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green.
Mr Cole said the plant took waste oils from premises such as restaurants and fish and chip shops and turned them into a biodiesel product which could be used by motorists.
It was discovered there was an open drain at the plant and that there were inadequate safeguards to prevent any spillages going down the drain and polluting watercourses.
Mr Cole said during a further inspection it was noted that a metal tray had been placed loosely over the drain.
Timothy Pole, defending, said Mehmood, aged 43, of Hazelmere Road, Hall Green, had been part of an “explosion” of people who had recently become involved in the business of making alternative energy sources.
However, he had not made any profit out of it and had subsequently sold his business.
It had not been pointed out how imperative it was he should deal with the open drain immediately and that the offence was committed out of ignorance.
