The Environment Agency has announced that two companies have made charity donations totalling more than £50,000 for failing to meet obligations under the packaging regulations.
High street retailer The Works, paid £35,868 in Enforcement Undertakings to the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, while manufacturing company Fabriweld Tubular Steel Products paid £15,300 to the Nottingham Wildlife Trust, for failing to meet regulations set out by the Agency.
To register, companies need to provide evidence its packaging waste has been dealt with correctly.
The Agency said the packaging recycling regulations ensure packaging materials are recycled and do not end up in landfill.
The regulations dictate that companies with a turnover of £2 million or more, and which handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year, must ensure a certain percentage is recycled.
Fabriweld
The Agency said that Fabriweld, which manufactures steel and aluminium products, accepted it had failed to comply with the regulations for registration between 2001 and 2016, avoiding over £15,000 in costs.
Company officials from Fabriweld Tubular Steel Products said they were “unaware” they had to register under the regulations with the Environment Agency.
The Works
The Works admitted that between 7 April 2010 and 7 April 2016 it had not been registered as a producer of waste packaging due to lack of awareness of The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.
Its donation of more than £35,000 to the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust was accepted by the Environment Agency.
‘Make amends’
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Enforcement Undertakings allow packaging waste producers to comply with the law and make amends by contributing to environmental projects and improvements.
“The Environment Agency is increasingly using this method of enforcement for cases of less serious offending to restore or enhance the environment, improve practices of the offending business and ensure future compliance with environmental requirements. However, we will continue to pursue prosecution for the most serious cases.”
Controversy
There has been controversy surrounding the packaging waste regulations, as many companies are concerned that money paid in compensation goes to charities which are not relevant to recycling.
Earlier this year, it was reported that over £236,000 was donated to charities in EU’s by companies between 23 May and 30 November 2019. (see letsrecycle.com story)
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
