The Environment Agency has completed its first Enforcement Undertaking from a Derbyshire packaging firm.
An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer from a company to make amends for not meeting Environmental Regulations. This can be achieved by compensating communities affected, restoring the environment or donating to a suitable charity.
In 2010, the Environment Agency found that DA Pak Ltd of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, should have been registered for the Producer Responsibility Obligation (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 as amended. These regulations make companies who handle packaging take responsibility for it when it becomes waste.
After an investigation, the company admitted that they had failed to register under the regulations in 2009 and 2010 and hadn’t met their obligations. The company offered £2000 towards our investigation costs and a donation of £1251 to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
Derbyshire wildlife Trust has used the donation to buy a solar powered water pump to help maintain wetland areas in the Trent Valley. These wetland reserves are vitally important for the bird species they support, and water levels at the site are critical in order to provide the ideal habitat for a wide range of species.
Hannah Wooldridge, Environment Officer said: “Enforcement Undertakings are a new tool we can use for certain environmental offences. In this case we got a great outcome for the environment, without going through the courts. These sanctions will not replace prosecuting the worst offenders that damage the environment, but they do allow us to be far more flexible in how we deal with offences. We’re committed to helping businesses stay on the right side of the law, and these new tools help us to save time and money, whilst contributing to a better environment for all.”
For more information about waste packaging and producer responsibilities contact rb@crsrisk.com to see how we can support you.
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