Red Bull hit with record fine over recycling
August 1, 2009
Energy drink manufacturer Red Bull has been hit with the biggest fine in waste history after admitting breaking recycling laws.
Red Bull was ordered to pay £271,800 last Monday (27 July) after admitting not recovering and recycling their packaging.
The firm, which is based in London, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to not telling the Environment Agency it was a producer of packaging waste and to not recovering or recycling packaging waste for eight years between 1999 and 2006, a total of sixteen charges.
A fine of £261,278 was handed down by court, Red Bull was also ordered to pay also ordered to pay £3755 in costs to the Environment Agency.
Red Bull was also ordered to pay compensation of £6854 to the Environment Agency for unpaid registration fees for the years 1999 to 2006.
When the company realised it mistake it went to the Environment Agency and has since put measures in place.
Outside the court Environment Agency officer, Helen Pavlou, said: "The regulations are in place to encourage a reduction in the amount of packaging used by business and to decrease the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
"Money raised from compliance is invested in the recycling industry, so failure to comply by the Red Bull and other companies means there is less investment in the recycling industry than there should be."
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