MONMOUTHSHIRE’S green waste could be transported out of the county for up to six months after the firm it normally uses was banned from taking it in.

The Environment Agency served a notice on Wormtech last week after E.coli and salmonella was found at its Caerwent site.

As previously reported by the Argus, officers working for the Government agency found a substance known as leachate – which is produced by the composting process – coming out of the wall of a building used for food waste deliveries, and coming off the back of a compost mound.

Samples taken found high levels of ammoniacal nitrogen, which is toxic to fish.

The notice means Wormtech cannot bring in any waste until it proves it has sealed its buildings, so Monmouthshire council has had to make alternative arrangements.

The county’s Cabinet member for County Operations Bryan Jones told all councillors at a meeting on Thursday waste is being taken to RoseHill Invessel Composter at Dymock, Gloucestershire, as there was no suitable facility in South East Wales.

“I must stress that Monmoutshire Council can and will charge Wormtech for all the additional costs incurred as a result of this arrangement,” he said.

“The EA have given them (Wormtech) until January to submit assessments and reports on the robustness of the buildings and the drainage systems to manage this waste appropriately.

Subject to what is submitted the EA will then consider the permit for the site.”

Monmoutshire Council has had a contract in place with Wormtech since 2009.

In May 2011, it was fined £41,000 after polluting a water supply and forcing a Ministry of Defence training base into quarantine for three months.

Another enforcement action was taken by the agency on July 5 to prevent leachate escaping the site and soaking into the ground, the council meeting heard.

Jackie Powell of Wormtech said last week the firm was doing everything it could to work with the Environment Agency, and has asked for more time to sort out its issues.