New civil sanctions used by Environment Agency

Environmental update 25/07/2011

The Environment Agency (EA) has used new civil sanctions as an alternative to criminal prosecution, becoming the first enforcement body to do so.

Following a firm's packaging waste offences, the EA has come to an agreement regarding funding environmental improvements rather than taking the company to court and prosecuting them.

London-based engineering and IT company Invensys PLC has agreed to "fund environment improvements and community benefits" equivalent to the cost of the offences committed. The firm will stump up £21,000, some of which will pay for a new community recycling initiative to be led by the local authority.

Invensys PLC also has to agree to implement improvements in order to comply with the Packaging Waste Regulations.

Ed Mitchell, the EA director of environment and business, said, “Civil sanctions are an alternative to criminal prosecution for less serious environment offences - such as breaking packaging waste regulations.

“They allow us to secure regulatory compliance from organisations, eliminate any financial gain from non-compliance and get them to react responsibly to the offending," he added. "Organisations can make reparations that focus on environmental improvements."

The new civil sanctions have been rolled out for some of the offences covered by the EA, but not all offences are covered as yet.