Firms have agreed civil sanctions with the
Companies handing over almost £90,000 following recycling blunders
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-£87,000 to go to environmental charities
- Benefits include species and habitats enhancement, community engagement, and improved visitor access to natural environments
A tech firm, a drinks company and a home furnisher will pay a total of almost £87,000 to good causes after they failed to comply with packaging waste regulations designed to protect the environment.
Meanwhile, alcoholic drinks giant
And iconic furniture name
All 3 recognised that they had failed to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (as amended), which ensure that businesses fund the recycling of the packaging waste that they place on the
By failing to register with a compliance scheme and to take reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging waste, the businesses also avoided paying a charge based on how much packaging they got through in the same period.
The money paid to the charities will help provide and protect local wildlife habitats and wetland areas, and improve people's access to and enjoyment of these places.
Any company handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, and with a turnover of above £2 million, must register with the
If companies fail to meet their obligations under environmental law, we will take action to ensure that they change their ways.
The companies each agreed to register with a compliance scheme, revise internal processes and assign a responsible person.
The companies also agreed to take measures to ensure they comply with their packaging waste responsibilities in the future.
As well as the charitable contributions, they paid the
We're satisfied that they won't repeat their mistakes.
Anyone who spots pollution should report it to the
The offences relate to failure to comply for registration year 2020, including failure to:
- register - Regulation 40(1)
- take reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging waste - Regulation 40(1)(b)
The company will:
- register with a compliance scheme
- revise its internal work procedures
- assign a responsible person
- implement a new methodology
- cover the
- contribute £5,736.89 to
- Maintain the biodiversity of a very scarce habitat in the
- Increasing the number of important grassland species such as yellow rattle, common knapweed, great burnet, orchids, and crested dog's tail, on the drier grassland.
- On the wetter parts of the grassland, in hollows and furrows, maintain and increase species such as meadowsweet, water avens, ragged robin and marsh marigold
Enhance the visitor experience.
The offences relate to failure to comply for years 2017 to 2019 inclusive, including failure to:
- register - Regulation 40(1)
- take reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging waste - Regulation 40(1)(b)
The company will:
- register with a compliance scheme
- revise its internal work procedures
- introduce director-level sign-off procedures
- implement a new methodology
- assign a responsible person
- provide regular updates and training
- cover the
- contribute £45,088.49 to
- Engage, inspire and upskill local community groups to help reverse the decline of pollinator species through creating green corridors and space for nature to move, adapt and thrive.
- Create and restore habitat within key biodiversity areas.
- Support local groups and produce toolkits for communities.
The offences relate to failure to comply for years 2007 to 2020 inclusive, including failure to:
- register - Regulation 40(1)
- take reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging waste - Regulation 40(1)(b)
The company will:
- register with a compliance scheme
- implement a new written procedure
- assign a responsible person
- cover the
- contribute £35,803.99 to the
- alleviate the impact of visitors on the surrounding landscape through the installation of 60m of boardwalks at key areas.
- Create new access to the wetland which was previously inaccessible before.
- Help maintain the natural flora, fauna and British duckweed which supports populations of some of the
- Enhance the visitor experience.
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