Fruit and veg company fined over packaging breach
Failure to comply with packaging regulations has led to fines
for a Norwich-based fruit and vegetable company.
The fruit and vegetable supplier, Preva Produce Ltd, told
Environment Agency Officers in January that although its work meant
it was obligated to be registered with a recycling scheme, it was
not currently part of one.
William Beeson, Managing Director of the Norwich-based company,
said that Preva Produce handled 188 tonnes of packaging in 2008 but
had not registered to join the recycling scheme because they were
'unaware of the packaging regulations.'
The Environment Agency regulations, which state that all
companies handling in excess of 50 tonnes of packaging a year and
with annual turnover of more than £2 million, must be registered
with a recycling scheme.
It has been estimated that the total cost avoided by not
complying with the scheme was around £1,000. Not being in a scheme
racks up three separate offences each year - not being registered,
failing to recover and recycle packaging and not providing a record
of recycling.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with packaging
regulations and was fined a total of £1,050 and ordered to pay
costs of £1,515 by Norwich Magistrates Court.
Mrs Anne-Lise McDonald prosecuting, said, “The aim of the
packaging regulations is to achieve a more sustainable approach to
dealing with packaging by ensuring businesses take responsibility
for the packaging used in their operations.
“This in turn reduces the amount of packaging produced and the
amount going to landfill,” she added.