The Environment Agency found that Telford-based Rosewood Pet Products became obligated under Packaging Waste regulations in 1999 but did not actually register until 2020.

By failing to register and take reasonable steps to recover and recycle its packaging waste, it was estimated that the business avoided fees and charges of £60,135.97.

A 10% penalty element was added, resulting in a total of £66,149.57 to be paid to Shropshire Wildlife Trust, under a proactive Enforcement Undertaking.

Jake Richardson, Senior Technical Officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Protecting the environment and taking action against those that damage or threaten this is our utmost priority.

“While we will always prosecute in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

“They enable businesses to become more compliant and prevent repeat offending by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.”

Since 2020 Rosewood Pet Products has been registered and compliant in each subsequent year with the Regulations.

Companies become an obligated packaging producer if they handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging materials in the previous calendar year and have turnover of more than £2m.

Rosewood Pet Products had sales of more than £37m in its most recent accounts.