Waste fines double in five years to top 3m in 2008

Courts made 454 prosecutions for waste crimes in 2008, one less than in 2004, but the total value of the fines rose from £1.4m to £3.2 in that period. Waste crimes include flytipping, illegal export of waste, and failing to register with packaging waste recovery schemes.

Last week, Southwark Magistrates Court in London hit drinks importer Red Bull with the largest-ever waste fine of £261,268. Red Bull had failed to contribute to the recovery and recycling of packaging waste over an eight-year period.

Environment Agency policy advisor Adrian Harding told Packaging News prosecuting non-compliant companies was important to ensure a level playing field between firms, but said the organisation was not looking at menial transgressions.

“It’s about protecting those firms that are doing the right thing. It’s not about prosecuting people who’ve missed registering a tonne of waste, but people who’ve not contributed for several years,” he said.

Harding said that since the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations were introduced in 2007 there have always been free riders, but they had made a major contribution to reducing waste sent to landfill.

“The UK’s approach to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive is one of the lowest-cost in Europe. The regime is being actively enforced and delivering the environmental outcome.”

Liz Parkes, EA head of waste and resource management said waste regulations were important to protect people’s health and the environment.

“This is not about people putting waste in the wrong bin. We concentrate on those individuals and companies whose illegal activities have the potential to cause serious damage to the environment,” she said.

For the full story on the record Red Bull prosecution, click here.

UK WASTE PROSECUTIONS

2004 – 466 (25 packaging prosecutions) – £1,424,843
2005 – 514 (31) – £2,215,688
2006 – 441 (53) – £2,202,657
2007 – 510 (67) – £2,664,423
2008 – 454 (56) – £3,156,427

Source: Environment Agency

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