EA Prosecute WEEE Producer

Greetings,

Aston and Fincher Ltd, a hairdressing supplies wholesaler, last week became the first ever company to be prosecuted for failing to comply with both WEEE and packaging regulations. The Environment Agency discovered this as a result of routine investigations. They were ordered to pay fines, costs and compensation totalling £30,905.11.

It was found that the company had imported a range of electrical items into the UK but had failed to meet the obligations as a producer under the UK WEEE Regulations, which have been in place since 2007. They also found that, from 2001 to 2008, they had committed offences in relation to packaging regulations.

Hannah Wooldridge, an EA officer leading the investigation, commented after the case, “businesses have a responsibility for what happens to their waste and ignorance is no defence.”

Ashton and Fincher’s secretary said that it was not a deliberate intention to evade the regulations, the company had simply not been aware of them.

The WEEE directive is in place to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage re-use, recycling and recovery. It aims to improve the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover.

The Packaging Regulations (Essential Requirements) apply to businesses that produce packaged products, design packaging and import or sell packaged goods. Your packaging must be able to be recovered by material recycling, energy recovery, composting or reuse.
You must also have evidence that your packaging complies with the regulations and keep this for at least four years. If these records are requested by the EA, you must supply them within 28 days.
http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/63268.aspx

I’d suggest to any business out there that isn’t 100% sure of what’s required of them, to read all regulations and requirements, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

LL

EMERGE Recycling

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