News Release

For immediate release
November 18, 2003

BEL-CO EXPRESS INC. FINED TOTAL OF $21,000

RICHMOND HILL – Bel-Co Express Inc., a waste transportation company, has been fined a total of $21,000, plus a 25-percent victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to three charges under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

Bel-Co Express Inc. operates out of 1220 Creditstone Road in the City of Vaughan. The Court heard that on June 6, 2002 Ministry of the Environment (MOE) staff visited the site and discovered that construction and demolition waste was being deposited there without a certificate of approval. The company was issued an Order to cease receiving waste and to remove the existing waste by June 14, 2002. When ministry staff returned in July 2002, they found that the company had continued to receive waste.

Bel-Co Express Inc. was convicted on one count under section 41 of the EPA for depositing waste at an unapproved site. The company was also convicted on two counts under section 186(2) of the EPA for failing to comply with a Provincial Officer Order by continuing to deposit waste at an unapproved site and by not removing the existing waste. Bel-Co Express was fined $7,000 for each offence.

The Court also imposed an Order under section 190 of the EPA requiring the company to remove the remaining waste from the site and to send information to the District Manager of the MOE by November 21, 2003 confirming the removal of the waste. The Order also prohibits Bel-Co Express from bringing more waste to the site.

Justice of the Peace Cornelia Mews heard the case on November 7, 2003 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Richmond Hill.

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Contact:
Mark Rabbior
Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666