Hi-Tech Coatings International pledges £20,935.76 to the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust as part of enforcement undertakings after it failed to comply with Producer Responsibility Obligations.
The Environment Agency said the Buckinghamshire-based coatings manufacturer avoided paying to offset their obligation based on how much packaging they handled in the previous calendar year by failing to register and to take “reasonable steps” to recover and recycle packaging waste.
The Environment Agency uses enforcement undertakings for suitable cases, in accordance with its enforcement and sanctions policy. It said it reserves prosecutions for cases where evidence shows “high levels of culpability and serious environmental harm”.
The contribution will go towards ongoing management of College Lake to ensure it remains accessible, safe and of interest to visitors, the Environment Agency said.
The company also agreed to take measures to ensure it complies with its packaging waste responsibilities in the future.
Commenting on the case, Jake Richardson, a senior technical officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Any company handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, and with a turnover in excess of £2 million, must register with the Environment Agency or a packaging compliance scheme, and meet their responsibilities for recycling waste packaging.
“If companies fail to meet their obligations under environmental law, we will take action to ensure that they change their ways. The company also agreed to take measures to ensure it complies with its packaging waste responsibilities in the future. We’re satisfied it won’t repeat its mistakes.”
The Environment Agency said the enforcement undertaking will help the charity to protect local wildlife habitats and wetland areas through its College Lake programme, near Tring, in Buckinghamshire.
The charity also plans to use the money to deliver its education programme aimed at key stage 1 and 2 children – sessions include pond dipping, bug hunting, birdwatching, history and geology of the site, habitat surveys and “how to care for the planet”.
