The case against Roland (UK) comes a month after a fine totalling 25,000 was imposed on another company, the Skelmersdale food firm The Snack Factory Ltd for failing to comply with the regulations.
The Snack Factory Limited, of Pennine Place, West Pimbo, Skelmersdale, pleaded guilty on September 17 to five offences under the Producer Responsibility Obligations packaging waste regulations. As well as being fined, the company was ordered to pay 1,774.52 costs to the Environment Agency.
David Bradley, prosecuting for the Agency, told Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court how the company, which has an annual turnover of more than 35million, saved an estimated 25,500 by ignoring the regulations between 1998 and 2000.
Musical
Environment Agency Wales brought the case against Roland (UK), which is based at Atlantic Close, Swansea. It imports musical equipment and instruments and digital printing equipment and then distributes the majority of these products to UK retailers. The company pleaded guilty to six offences under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997, and were fined a total of 6,000. Environment Agency Wales, which brought the prosecution, were awarded costs of 768.
The Regulations, introduced four years ago, affect any business which has an annual turnover of more than 2 million and handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging or packaging materials per annum. Such businesses must register annually with either with the Agency or an approved compliance scheme, and then subsequently ensure the recovery and recycling of packaging waste, to meet their obligations.
The court was told that Roland (UK) Limited carried out an assessment in 1997, which confirmed that they were exempt in that year from these regulations, by virtue of not meeting the packaging handled threshold. The company then assumed that they were also exempt in 1998 and 1999 but had failed to confirm this position by carrying out an assessment. The company registered in 2000, after its status was investigated by the Agency – investigations also confirmed that the company was obligated to register in 1998 and1999.
Speaking after the hearing Gareth Jones, an Agency Environment Protection Enforcement Officer said: “These Regulations ensure that businesses involved in the manufacture, supply and use of packaging share the environmental costs of the recovery and recycling of packaging when it becomes waste. It is important that businesses carry out a thorough assessment of their status under these regulations each and every year, and register before April 7 if they meet both thresholds.”
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