Even seemingly innocuous substances, like human food and drink,
can be hazardous to the natural environment. And spills of food and
drink must be reported.
Silani Sweet Cheese Limited manufactures a cheese at a facility
in Bradford, West Gwilliumbury. In January 2013, ricotta cheese
whey overflowed from a silo at the site. Although the discharge
only lasted 10 minutes, approximately 1,200 litres of whey flowed
into the surrounding field, toward a very slow flowing stream
inhabited by minnows and invertebrates. Silani did not report the
spill to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
(MOECC).
The spilled whey had the potential to have an adverse effect on
plant and animal life in the stream. The Ministry prosecuted Silani
for failing to notify them of the spill.
