‘Brussels meddling ruined our business’ £2m fury as EU officials ignore own regulation
A £2MILLION British recycling furnace installed to strict Brussels regulations has been written off because a Dutch rival ignored EU directives.
David Cameron hailed it as the kind of enterprise that would help gain important deals
The plant was built to dispose of old-fashioned TV cathode ray tubes.
Opened just two years go by Tory minister Michael Fallon, it was even backed by the Environment Agency because it adhered to the standards set out by Brussels on disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
However, a Dutch rival is disposing of the waste in a less environmentally-friendly way and EU officials have chosen to ignore their own rules.
It means the UK furnace is no longer cost-efficient and is not being used. Former motor racing champion Patrick Watts and his wife Pamela, established their company, SWEEEP Kuusakoski on a four-acre site in Sittingbourne, Kent, in 2007.
The plant was opened just two years go by Tory minister Michael Fallon
British business bosses sign Brexit letter
Yet again, we are the victims because we do things properly
David Cameron visited it the following year and hailed it as the kind of enterprise that would help gain important Government deals.
Home Secretary Theresa May has also visited the plant.
But Mrs Watts, 57, of Tunbridge Wells, said: “Yet again, we are the victims because we do things properly.”
The plant was backed by the Environment Agency because it adhered to the standards set out by the EU
Mrs Watts said that they, yet again, were victims because they did things properly
The new furnace separated elements, allowing them to create pure lead and inert sand which could be sold on.
Barely had the new plant opened when the Dutch firm disposed of waste into substandard concrete blocks and sold them back to Britain.
Mrs Watts, who is backing Brexit, said: “My husband had already thought of that but was told it was not acceptable by the EA.”