Avalon Packaging Ltd, which operates form Martland Mill Industrial Estate in Wigan, pleaded guilty to 15 offences under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.
Along with its substantial fine, the company was also ordered to pay 2,278 in court costs to the Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution to Wigan and Leigh Magistrates last Thursday (April 26.)
Tracey Shaw, prosecuting, told the court that Avalon Packaging had saved itself 44,471 by failing to pay for the recycling and recovery of packaging waste under the regulations.
Obligations
Under the regulations, companies like Avalon, which handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year and have a turnover of more than 2 million, must take a series of steps to reduce the amount of packaging waste going to landfill or incinerators.
They are required to:
- Register with the Environment Agency or join an approved compliance scheme and provide data on packaging handled
- Pay for the recovery and recycling of specific tonnages of packaging waste
- Provide evidence (known as packaging waste recovery notes or PRNs) that recycling and recovery has taken place
Investigation
An investigation began last January when Avalon Packaging contacted the Environment Agency to inform officials it believed it had obligations under the packaging waste regulations.
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The company, which manufactures plastic trays and lids, said its actions were an oversight and not indicative of its commitment to environmental issues. It said it has now employed an environmental consultant to prevent any further breaches.
The regulations were established in 1997 as a way of sharing out the costs of meeting European recovery targets among packaging producers.
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