Glasgow manufacturer fined for waste packaging offences

A food manufacturer in Glasgow has been fined for flouting business packaging regulations

A food manufacturer based in Glasgow has been prosecuted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for failing in its responsibility to recover and recycle waste packaging.

Walter Black Foods of Drumhead Road, Cambuslang Investment Park, were investigated by SEPA in October 2013 when the agency saw that the food manufacturer had ended its member contract with its Producer Responsibility Obligations compliance scheme.

Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packing Waste) Regulation 2007, manufacturers of products that require packaging are required to register as a product producer with SEPA. The producer will then be given recycling obligations which it can choose to fulfil independently or it can join a compliance scheme.

All manufacturers and compliance schemes are required to record their packaging recovery and recycling rates and submit it on demand to SEPA. The Producer Responsibility Regulations are designed to reduce waste packaging being sent to landfill.

SEPA sent multiple warning letters to Walter Black Foods, informing the firm of its registration requirements, but the letters went ignored.

The case was sent to the Procurator Fiscal and Walter Black Foods was obliged to appear in court. The firm pleaded guilty to failing to register in accordance with Producer Responsibility Regulations; failing to supply a certificate of compliance; and therefore failing to recover and recycle its packaging.

The food company was handed a £8,600 fine and was required to pay £28,538 as part of a Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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