The UK Environment Agency (EA) has directed more than £2.2m in enforcement undertaking payments to a total of 15 charities and projects to help continue efforts to tackle plastic packaging waste.
The payments are from companies and individuals who failed to comply with packaging waste and recycling regulations.
Wessex Water Services paid £975,000 for an environmental offence involving sewage spills at Swanage in Dorset.
United Utilities Water offered £232,000, while Yorkshire Water Services provided £200,000. Northumbrian Water paid £135,000, Carlsberg Supply Company UK offered £120,000, and Tesco Distribution provided £100,000.
Independent water cooler service provider Angel Springs Holdings has paid a sum of £24,329 to the Marine Conservation Society, as its two subsidiary companies failed to comply with regulations.
The two subsidiary companies Angel Springs Ltd and Fillongley Spring Water failed to register between 2009 and 2016 under regulations covering packaging waste.
Environment Agency environment officer Beth Haste said: “Enforcement Undertakings offers are an effective enforcement tool used by the Environment Agency to enable companies to address historical non-compliance under the Packaging Regulations.
“The Packaging Regulations require companies, which annually have a turnover of more than £2m and handle 50t or more of packaging, to take responsibility for packaging when it becomes waste.
“We believe the contribution to the Marine Conservation Society’s Bincentives schools environmental education project will support the principles underpinning the Packaging Regulations.”
These companies have accepted liability and agreed to make improvements to avoid future offences.
