12/04/2006
- Label maker Royston Labels Ltd has been fined
a total of £4,000 and told to pay full prosecution
costs of £1,350 for failing its environmental
duty to recycle waste for two years.
The offences came to light on
a routine enquiry by the Environment Agency, whose
responsibility it is to enforce the Producer Responsibility
Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.
If a company has an annual turnover
in excess of £2m and handles more than 50
tonnes of packaging in a year they have to comply
with the regulations. Royston Labels had a turnover
in 2001/2 of £3.46m and 2002/3 of £3.23.
During the relevant time it
also handled 65.5 tonnes of packaging material
for 2002 and 109 tonnes in 2003 putting it well
above the minimum.
Stevenage magistrates were told
that the company had not only failed its environmental
duty but also saved £2,070 during that time
by not registering to recover and recycle.
Companies carry out their obligation
by registering with the Environment Agency or
a compliance scheme and buying sufficient packaging
waste recovery notes (PRNs) from accredited packaging
waste reprocessors to demonstrate they have paid
for enough recovery to meet their obligation.
Royston Labels managers said
they had thought they did not need to register
unless their annual turnover was more than £5m.
This limit was changed to £2m in 1999.
Environment Agency officer Jo
Glynn said: 'The reason for having packaging regulations
is to cut back on the amount of waste going into
landfill. Businesses have a duty to take responsibility
for the packaging they use and the consequence
of failing to comply with their environmental
responsibilities was reflected in the fines imposed
today'
Royston Labels pleaded guilty
to:
1. As a producer under Regulation 3(2) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to register by
7 April 2003 as required by Regulations 3(5)(a)
and 5 of those Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(a) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
2. As a producer under Regulation
3(2) of the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to take
reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging
waste during the year ending 31 December 2003
as required by Regulation 3(5)(b)(i) of those
Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(b) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
3. As a producer under Regulation
3(2) of the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to furnish
a certificate of compliance in respect of the
recovery and recycling obligations by 31 January
2004 as required by Regulations 3(5)(b)(ii) and
23 of those Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(c) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
4. As a producer under Regulation
3(2) of the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to register
by 7 April 2004 as required by Regulations 3(5)(a)
and 5 of those Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(a) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
5. As a producer under Regulation
3(2) of the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to take
reasonable steps to recover and recycle packaging
waste during the year ending 31 December 2004
as required by Regulation 3(5)(b)(i) of those
Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(b) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
6. As a producer under Regulation
3(2) of the Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 failed to furnish
a certificate of compliance in respect of the
recovery and recycling obligations by 31 January
2005 as required by Regulations 3(5)(b)(ii) and
23 of those Regulations.
Contrary to Regulation 34(1)(c) and (5) of the
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging
Waste) Regulations 1997 and Section 95 of the
Environment Act 1995.
