Figures published on March 31st indicate that a total of twenty businesses had not registered with a compliance scheme as required under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.
A record payment of £414,960 was made by organic baby food producer HiPP Uk Limited for failure to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations with the largest payment previously accepted by the Agency standing at around £60,000. To ensure future compliance HiPP UK has received legal advice, registered with compliance scheme Comply Direct and improved its internal reporting systems to prevent further breaches of the law.
This can occur if businesses are unaware of the rules – especially if they grow above the 50 tonnes per year threshold for eligibility under the regulations. Rather than facing the possibility of a court appearance and a potential fine, the firms took up an option given to them by the Environment Agency of donating money to charity.
The offers are known as “Enforcement Undertakings”, described as an offer “formally accepted by the regulator, to take steps that would make amends for non-compliance and its effects.”
If your business handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging annually and has an annual turnover of over £2 million, it qualifies as a packaging producer and must register with the Environmental Agency (EA) or with a packaging compliance scheme by 7 April each year.
Reference:
GPT Waste Contact Details
14 Whitworth Court Manor
Farm Road
Manor Park
Runcorn
WA7 1WA
Tel: 0844 854 50000844 854 5000
Fax: 01928 571 335
Email: info@gptwaste.com
Representatives from GPT are available for media interviews and speaking opportunities.
If you would like to be added to the PR distribution list for future news or for more information, contact:
Katie Brown, SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited),
18 Boiler House,
Electric Wharf,
Coventry,
CV1 4JU,
Tel: 0870 199 40440870 199 4044,
Email: katie@simplymarcomms.co.uk
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