Gioma, the company behind the Gaucho chain of Argentinean restaurants, last week pleaded guilty to failing to recycle and recover packaging waste between 2007 and 2009.
City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court fined the firm £13,500 and ordered it to pay £8,408 in compensation for missed registration fees. Gioma was also instructed to pay £3,004 in costs to the Environment Agency and a £15 surcharge.
The Swallow Street-based outfit, which operates 14 restaurants, said it had joined a compliance scheme in 2010 but also asked the court to take 14 similar incidents between 2000 and 2006 into account.
The company’s main activity is that of seller of glass, plastic and cardboard, the Environment Agency said in a statement.
Investigating officer Daniela Gatto-Ronchieri said that many businesses were still unaware of their obligations with regards to packaging waste.
“The money that Gioma UK has saved by not purchasing Packaging Recovery Notes would have directly supported the recycling industry,” she said.
Gioma UK declined to comment when contacted by Packaging News.
Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, firms with an annual turnover of more than £2m that handle in excess of 50 tonnes of packaging are required to register with the Environment Agency or other compliance scheme.
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