A pet products company has donated £66,000 to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust after failing to comply with packaging waste regulations for 20 years from 1999 to 2019.
An investigation by the Environmental Agency found that Rosewood Pet Products was obligated to the regulations, which are meant to ensure that businesses fund the recycling of the waste they produce, in 1999 but did not register until 2020.
It estimated that the West Midlands-based business avoided fees and charges of £60,000, to which a 10% penalty was added, totalling £66,000.
The Shropshire Wildlife Trust said it would use the money to offer schools from the Telford area 27 fully funded visits to their Wood Lane nature reserve.
Another project will engage local teenagers and young people in Telford in using their local green spaces through five weekend workshops each year for three years.
Ellie Larkham, trust education and learning manager for the Trust, said: “Schools tell us that they struggle to fund off-site trips like this, particularly with the increasing cost of coach travel, but they are reluctant to pass on costs to parents.
“We want to ensure that this funding has a legacy, so it is really exciting to have the opportunity to work with a group of the most engaged schools to embed outdoor learning in their curriculum.”
‘An effective enforcement tool’
The Environment Agency can carry out an enforcement undertaking as an alternative sanction to prosecution or monetary penalty for certain environmental offences.
An undertaking allows firms or individuals who have damaged the environment to offer actions to address the cause and effect of their offences, including financial contributions to appropriate projects.
Jake Richardson, senior technical officer for the Environment Agency, said in a statement: “Protecting the environment and taking action against those that damage or threaten this is our utmost priority.
“While we will always prosecute in the most serious cases, enforcement undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.”
Sara Blain, quality assurance and compliance manager for Rosewood Pet Products, told Civil Society that the company “pro-actively righted the wrong” and informed the Environmental Agency as soon as it became aware of the legislation breach.
The company has since established a system on site to comply with regulations and standards, Blain said.
In terms of choosing a local charity to donate to, Blain said: “We chose to make our donation to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust as not only being local but on the merits of the suggested project which will help not only wildlife but the continuing education of local children.”
Related Articles
