A conservation charity has been handed almost £18,000 after a DNA testing kit firm was found to have breached its recycling obligations.

Trafalgar Scientific Limited, which supplies laboratory and microbiological equipment, including DNA testing kits, had failed to meet its recycling obligations with its waste packaging, according to the Environment Agency.

But as an alternative to prosecution or a fine, the firm has agreed to an Enforcement Undertaking (EU). This is put in place to address the impact of offending and to make a payment to an “appropriate environmental project”.

The Environment Agency has announced that under the terms of the EU, a payment of £17,600 is to be made by the firm to Leicestershire based Bradgate Park Trust.

The money will be used for its Jubilee Woodland project to plant trees, boost green education among the public and protect biodiversity of local woodland.

“The funding from the Enforcement Undertaking will be used to plant a new area of parkland tree planting in a field adjacent to our Hallgates car park,” confirmed the Trust’s director James Dymond.

Environment Agency senior technical officer Jake Richardson added: “Enforcement Undertakings enable businesses to address historical non-compliance under the Packaging Regulations, through a series of actions that ensure future compliance and a financial contribution to a suitable environmental project.

“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.

“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.”

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