Environmental Leader

Soft drink company Red Bull has been fined £271,800 (about $448,400) for failing to meet its requirements to recover and recycle packaging waste for eight years between 1999 and 2006, and for failing to register with the Environment Agency (EA) in London as a producer of packaging waste, reports Recycling and Waste Management News. In addition, the soft drink maker has to pay £3755 (about $6,195) in costs to the Environment Agency and compensation of £6854 (about $11,304).

This beats the previous highest fine of £225,000 (about $371,107) that was imposed in January 2008 on a company that also failed to register as a producer of packaging, according to Recycling and Waste Management News.

Businesses that have an annual turnover in excess of a £2 million (about $3.3 million) and handle more than 50 tons of packaging each year must be registered with the EA or a compliance scheme under the Producer Responsibility Obligations Regulations 2007, reports the recycling news site.

But Red Bull isn’t the only company failing to meet waste regulations. A record £3 million (about $4.9 million) in fines were issued last year for waste crimes including illegal export of waste according to the Environment Agency, reports Click Green.

Click Green says the amount has doubled from £1.4 million (about $2.3 million) in just five years as the Government watchdog group clamps down on all types of waste crime. In total, 454 cases led to prosecution, with several large fines and prison sentences, according to the news site.