Waste site told to stop work due to dangerous dust

A waste site that crushes rocks has been ordered to suspend processing work because of dangerous dust emissions.

Emmerson Transport Ltd in Portsmouth, Hampshire, was found to be putting neighbouring businesses and wildlife habits at risk, the Environment Agency said.

Waste piles were higher than permitted, cleaning was inadequate and a crusher had been moved into a more exposed area, it said.

The company has been given until Friday to put things right.

The recycling facility, in Ackworth Road, Hilsea, has permits to crush and screen waste. It supplies aggregates such as crushed rock, gravel and sand.

Inspectors, who visited on 7 July, said they found a risk of dust pollution that could harm human health.

There had been failures to dampen and clean surfaces and vehicles, they said.

Perimeter nets had holes, waste piles were up to 5m (16ft) high instead of the 3m (10ft) limit, and the crusher was no longer discharging into the main building.

The site was a risk to its neighbours on the industrial estate as well as to the Hilsea Lines wildlife area and the Solent and Dorset Coast Special Protection Area, inspectors added.

Michael Turner from the Environment Agency said: "Emmerson Transport Ltd have failed to limit harmful dust emissions.

"We suspended waste processing activities at this site and will not allow them to resume until the necessary improvements have been made."