Support for charity as business makes amends for environmental offence
A Huddersfield-based home furnishings company has offered to pay £17,000 to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust after failing to comply with packaging waste regulations.
Interior Goods Direct Limited, of Colne Bridge Road, submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, after failing to meet clear packaging regulations – including failing to register as a packaging producer for over 10 years.
An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending.
Environment Agency officers conducted an investigation into potential offences committed by Interior Goods Direct Limited under the Packaging Waste Regulations.
These regulations aim to reduce over-packaging, cut the amount of packaging waste going to landfill, and increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste.
The investigation confirmed the company had failed to meet its environmental obligations by avoiding the costs of not registering as a packaging producer and had not met its obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.
The investigation found the company should have begun registering in 2010 but did not register until the 2021. It has registered in every subsequent registration year since.
The Environment Agency estimated Interior Goods Direct Limited avoided costs for not registering and meeting their obligation for those registration years, totalling £15,679.87. The company recognised the importance of the issue and decided to offer a total donation amount of £17,000.
Ben Hocking, area environment manager for West Yorkshire at the Environment Agency, said: “It is vital companies are aware of their environmental obligations.
“In this case Interior Goods Direct Limited recognised they had failed to comply with packaging waste regulations and are rightly making a substantial payment to a project that will enhance, restore and protect England’s natural environment.
“This payment of £17,000, prompted by investigative work from the Environment Agency, will go towards vital work being run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to protect Yorkshire’s invaluable marine environment.”
The offer from Interior Goods Direct Limited also outlined that the business will revise its internal compliance policies and procedures and record keeping and register with a compliance scheme.
