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Flooring importer hit with £36k packaging waste fine

Flooring material importer Karndean International has been fined £36,766 for failing to comply with packaging waste legislation.

TheEvesham-based company pleaded guilty to nine charges at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday (21 July).

The court fined Karndean £3,300 for each offence as well as £3,040 in compensation to the Environment Agency, £4,026 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

In a statement, Pat McDonald, UK managing director, said the firm fully accepted that it was culpable and had not contested the case.  

"Importantly, we have put in place the necessary processes and procedures to ensure this does not happen again and that we deliver in all aspects to a level that matches our own and our customers’ highest expectations," McDonald said.

Environment Agency officer Louise Goatcher said that had Karndean registered it would have cost £9,000 for the three years concerned instead of the more than £36,000 charge.

"We will continue to work with responsible businesses to reduce the amounts of packaging waste ending up in landfills, but we will also work hard to seek out and prosecute companies that fail to meet their obligations," said Goatcher.

Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, all businesses with an annual turnover in excess of £2m and which handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging per annum must be registered with the EA or a recognised compliance scheme.