The Environment Agency has released its latest enforcement undertakings for companies that have failed to comply with the packaging regulations.
The report shows there were 19 companies who breached the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (as amended) over the past 6 months, with costs totalling £341,363.69 – paid in the form of a donation to charity.
The payments are agreed between companies that produce packaging waste and the Environment Agency. Under the Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010, companies have the ability to secure an enforcement undertaking rather than face the possibility of a court appearance and potential fine. This is a voluntary offer made by an offender to:
Make sure the offence cannot happen again.
Put right the impact on third parties.
The largest amount paid by a company between 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021 was £54,880 by Walsh Mushrooms Ltd to the Marine Conservation Society, after the company failed to comply with the packaging regulations from 2007 to 2017.