A Barking-based steel company has been ordered to pay more than £3,200 after admitting a series of waste offences following an investigation by Barking and Dagenham Council.
Red Black Steel Ltd, based at Ajax Works, Hertford Road, Barking, pleaded guilty to three environmental offences at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on 10 November 2026.
The prosecution followed an investigation into the unlawful deposit of controlled waste after waste was found to have been unloaded from a company vehicle at a location not authorised for disposal.
Environmental Enforcement officers subsequently established that the company could not demonstrate compliance with its waste Duty of Care obligations and was unable to provide evidence that it was authorised to transport controlled waste.
The waste was identified initially during one of the Council's Cleaner BD Days of Action, where officers were carrying out environmental enforcement activity in the local area. Following a complaint and CCTV provided by a witness further enquiries led investigators to the company and uncovered a number of breaches of waste legislation.
The company pleaded guilty to unlawful deposit of controlled waste, failure to comply with waste Duty of Care requirements and transporting controlled waste without being registered as a waste carrier.
The court fined Red Black Steel Ltd £1,333 and ordered it to pay a victim surcharge of £533 and prosecution costs of £1,407, bringing the total amount payable to £3,273.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: "Environmental crime damages our neighbourhoods, harms the environment and places an unfair burden on residents and responsible businesses.
"This prosecution sends a clear message that we will take action against anyone who fails to meet their legal responsibilities when handling and disposing of waste. Our enforcement teams will continue to work proactively through initiatives such as our Days of Action to identify offences, gather evidence and hold offenders to account.”
The council continues to encourage residents to report fly-tipping and environmental crime so action can be taken against those responsible: https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/report-problem