Purity
Soft Drinks Limited, of Wednesbury, was
fined 9,000 GBP and ordered to pay 2,376
GBP in costs after failing to join a recycling
scheme between 2004 and 2006.
Purity Soft Drinks Limited,
of Wednesbury, was fined 9,000 GBP and ordered
to pay 2,376 GBP in costs after failing
to join a recycling scheme between 2004
and 2006.
Purity Soft Drinks appeared
at West Bromwich Magistrates' Court yesterday
(9 March 2009) and entered guilty pleas
to six offences of failing to comply with
the Producer Responsibility Obligations
Regulations.
For the Environment
Agency, Amy Jacobs told the court that Purity
Soft Drinks were obliged to register for
the Regulations because they handled over
50 tonnes of packaging and had a turnover
of over £2 million.
An investigation by
the Environment Agency showed that they
had not registered for the years 2004 to
2006 inclusive. This was confirmed in an
interview on 30 May 2008 by the operation
and managing director of the company.
Speaking after the case,
the Environment Agency officer involved
in the investigation said: “This case highlights
the need for all companies to keep abreast
of environmental regulation. The company
was unaware of the Regulations and their
implications. Any company with a turnover
of over £2 million and handling over
50 tonnes of packaging per annum may be
obligated and should seek advice to ensure
compliance with the Regulations.
She continued: “We do
provide guidance on the requirements of
the Regulations and how to stay on the right
side of the law on our website. We have
a very active team seeking out companies
who should be registered under the Regulations
and may take action against companies who
are non-compliant.“
In mitigation, the defence
representative stated that the offences
had occurred due to a genuine lack of awareness
and understanding of the Regulations, rather
than a deliberate flouting of the law. It
was an isolated, albeit continuing, lapse.
The company had admitted the offence promptly,
entered timely guilty pleas and co-operated
fully with the Environment Agency since
being made aware of its responsibilities.
In sentencing, the Magistrates
remarked that breaches had to be taken seriously;
however, there was no pollution caused and
it was easy for regulations such as these
to slip through the net. They were satisfied
that the company had acted as soon as the
matter was brought to its attention and
taken steps to prevent it happening again.
+ More
Environment Agency investigates
oil spill in Surrey lake
The Environment Agency
is investigating an oil spillage at Beddington
Park Lake in the River Wandle after concerned
local people alerted authorities.
Environment Officers
are currently on site with specialist contractors
already called in to clean up the oil which
is currently being contained in the lake.
At this early stage
it is thought that the red diesel has been
lost from a surface water drain from the
Croydon area. Environment officers have
been at the site containing the majority
of the oil before it can travel further
downstream.
The swans which live at the picturesque
lake have been rescued from the area by
the local wildlife trust.
Peter Ehmann, Environment Officer said:
“We were alerted to the spillage early this
afternoon and we sent officers straight
to the scene. Fortunately we arrived in
time to prevent the majority of diesel flowing
downstream of Beddington Park, which could
have been disastrous. It is vital that members
of the public alert us to spills such as
this so that we can do everything in our
power to reduce the impact on the local
environment.
“We are now working
to ensure that the lake is cleaned up properly
and investigating the cause of the spill.”
This is not the first
time that the area has been victim to pollution.
In 2007 hundreds of fish died as a result
of pollution on the River Wandle at Beddington
Corner.
Pollution incidents
can be very difficult to trace and early
reports from the public can be very helpful.
If anyone has any information on a large
loss of red diesel which has been known
to flow down the surface water drains, could
they please contact the Environment Agency
on our Emergency Number: 0800 807060.
