Printing business fined for environmental breaches
A printing business has admitted breaking a law designed to protect the environment and public health in a case brought by Telford & Wrekin Council’s public protection team.
WZ Packaging based in Halesfield 18 appeared before Shropshire magistrates yesterday (10 September) and pleaded guilty to operating without an environmental permit.
The company was fined £30,000 reduced to £20,000 because it pleaded guilty. It was also ordered to pay £1517.14 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
In addition, the court ordered WZ packaging to apply for an environmental permit by 1 October this year and have its pollution control equipment, known as ‘regenerative thermal oxidisation’ plant operational by 1 November. This equipment limits the harmful solvent emissions from the use of solvent based inks used in printing.
Cllr, Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement said: “It is regrettable that Telford & Wrekin Council had to take this action against the company. Our public protection team tried to support the business and gave them enough time to comply with the regulations but they could not get their house in order. The Council had to act to protect the environment and public health.”
Dealing with environmental permits and air quality are just some of the many issues tackled by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Public Protection team. For more information about their work, for guidance and advice or to report a problem, visit www.telford.gov.uk/publicprotection
