A multi-million-pound cleaning product firm has handed a conservation charity £150,000 after its pollution in the River Witham in Lincolnshire led to the death of almost 400 fish.

Reckitt Benckiser has handed the donation to East Mercia Rivers Trust after it's breach of environmental legislation resulted in the death of 381 fish in the river.

The donation has been made through the Environment Agency’s enforcement undertaking, where firms in breach of environmental law can offer funding to an impacted charity.

The firm was found to leaked aerosol production trade effluent from its site in Sinfin Lane, Derby in August 2021 into a brook as it flowed through a golf course.

The firm’s discharge in the river also caused “a prolific growth of sewage fungus”.

“The effluent was found to be seeping out of the bank of the brook within the site. It also resulted in low oxygen levels and was 130 times more polluting than untreated sewage,” said the Environment Agency.

It acknowledges though that Reckitt Benckiser “took prompt action to stop the polluting discharge”, which had stopped by the following day.

As well as donating to the Trust, the firm has spent £300,000 to prevent a recurrence of the breach and paid the Environment Agency’s costs of more than £10,000.

“The donation from Reckitt Benckiser has directly contributed towards a major river restoration project as part of East Mercia River Trust’s ambition to restore the Upper Witham landscape,” said East Mercia Rivers Trust executive director Rachel Butler.

“An important limestone river, this watercourse forms the headwaters of the Witham catchment and is home to white-clawed crayfish and brown trout amongst other native flora and fauna.

Environment Agency environment officer Paul Chambers added: “Enforcement Undertakings allow polluters to positively address and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents.

“The Environment Agency will consider acceptance of Enforcement Undertakings submitted for suitable cases to restore the environment, improve practices of the offending company and avoid longer criminal court cases. However, we will prosecute in appropriate cases.

“As well as donations totalling £150,000 to East Mercia Rivers Trust that will bring great benefits to the environment, Reckitt Benckiser has made significant improvements to the Sinfin Lane site drainage system, and particularly its trade effluent pipework

---