Trafalgar Scientific supplies a range of testing kits – including Covid-19 rapid antigen lateral flow tests – and laboratory equipment.
The firm has made a payment of £17,600 to Bradgate Park Trust’s Jubilee Woodland project following Enforcement Undertakings by the Environment Agency aimed at tackling historical non-compliance.
The Environment Agency said that Trafalgar Scientific had acknowledged that by failing to comply with the regulations the company had avoided paying the Environment Agency’s annual registration fees, and did not fund the recovery and recycling of packaging waste
The specific breaches were: in the years 2012-2020: Regulation 40(1)(a) – a failure to register under the Producer of Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007; and for the same period under Regulation 40(1)(b) – a failure to recover/recycle.
Jake Richardson, senior technical officer for the Environment Agency, said the body was pleased that that Trafalgar Scientific was now working in line with the regulations.
“The aim of the Packaging Regulations is to reduce the amount of packaging waste that enters our landfill sites by requiring obligated businesses (producers) to contribute financially towards the recovery and recycling of packaging waste,” he said.
“The Environment Agency is increasingly using this method of enforcement for cases to restore or enhance the environment, improve practices of the offending business and ensure future compliance with environmental requirements. However, we will continue to pursue prosecution where appropriate.”
Companies are deemed to be an “obligated” packaging producer if they (or the UK group of companies they are part of) meet both of the following measures: handled 50 tonnes of packaging materials or packaging in the previous calendar year; and have a turnover of more than £2m a year (based on the last financial year’s accounts).
Trafalgar Scientific has also paid the Environment Agency’s administration, investigation and legal costs, which were not disclosed.
Bradgate Park Trust said the funding from the Enforcement Undertaking would be used to plant a new area of parkland tree planting in a field adjacent to its Hallgates car park near Cropston, including fencing, new hedgerows, and field margins.
