A COMPANY has been fined £4,000 for failing to recycle waste for two years. The offence by Royston Labels came to light during a routine inquiry by the Environment Agency, which enforces the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulation

A COMPANY has been fined £4,000 for failing to recycle waste for two years.

The offence by Royston Labels came to light during a routine inquiry by the Environment Agency, which enforces the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.

If a company has an annual turnover in excess of £2m and handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, it has to comply with the regulations - Royston Labels had a turnover of £3.46m in 2001-02 and £3.23m in 2002-03.

Stevenage magistrates heard the company had not only failed its environment duty, but also saved £2,070 during that time by not registering to recover and recycle.

Royston Labels, which admitted the offence, said it had thought it did not need to register unless its annual turnover was more than £5m - the limit was changed to £2m in 1999.

The company was also ordered to pay £1,350 costs.