Wealden Business Help - Business Regulation and Practice - Environmental Controls

Fuel Laundering Plant Indicators

Fuel laundering is the term used to describe the illegal removal of marker dyes and chemicals from red diesel (agricultural diesel) and kerosene to produce road diesel (DERV). The process requires the use of strong acids and alkalis and can generate a lot of toxic waste.

A recent joint case between the Environment Agency and HMRC – Operation Compost - has shown the high risks to the environment and serious and organised crime elements being applied to this lucrative trade. As we move to the winter months, we may see higher fuel prices still and an increase in this activity.

Plants are typically found at remote agricultural buildings but with good access to the main highway network. They are also found in industrial units and smaller ones can operate from an articulated trailer. Farmers renting out units must be cautious about letting third parties deal with this type of operation, but also handling any waste materials – the Environment Agency has seen an increase in cases where landowners are left with the liability for when operations suddenly cease through raids or waste materials being deliberately set alight.

The following may indicate the presence of a fuel laundering plant in the locality:

Articulated fuel tankers visiting farm buildings
Fuel tankers seen in rural areas at unusual times of the day, including at night
Unlabelled IBC’s stacked outside a building often containing a red / brown liquid
Articulated trailer loaded with unlabelled IBC’s containing a black / brown liquid abandoned in a lay-by or at the side of a road
Builders’ bags of activated carbon / cat litter left outside or inside a building (activated carbon is used as a filter in the laundering process)
Large tanks, pipes, pumps, compressors and IBC’s inside a building
Fuel spillages outside buildings not associated with an obvious source, seepages from buildings to the surrounding ground

Suspected fuel laundering operations should be reported immediately to the National Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.

Incidents of water pollution, dumped containers of liquid waste or significant ground contamination should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.