Subscriber login Close [x]
remember me
You are not logged in.

UK wine merchant fined for not recycling

Published:  23 July, 2008

A UK wine merchant has been fined 40,000 for failing to recycle packaging waste.

Berkmann Wine Cellars, based in Highbury, North London, pleaded guilty flouting the packaging producer responsibility regulations by failing to pay for 2,800 tonnes of packaging waste to be recycled between 1998 and 2005.

The importer and wholesaler had also failed to register with the Environment Agency as a producer of packaging, according to letsrecycle.com.

Under the rules, all companies handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging each year to sell their goods, and which have an annual turnover above 2million, must contribute to UK recycling targets for packaging waste.

Berkmann was eligible because it had a turnover between 15.5m and 41m from 1998 to 2006.

Highbury Corner Magistrates Court fined the company 40,000 and also ordered it to pay the Environment Agency 6,086 in compensation for lost registration fees and 2,121 in legal costs.

Environment agency spokeswoman said: "Whilst we are grateful to Berkmann Cellars for their full cooperation, this case should serve as a warning to other companies that must take steps to ensure that their operations are fully compliant with the provisions of the packaging regulations."

Keywords: