A Shropshire-based wildlife charity has received more than £66,000 in an enforcement undertaking payment from a Telford pet product company, after it failed to comply with packaging regulations for 20 years. 

Rosewood Pet Products made the payment after an investigation by the Environment Agency found that the company had become required to comply with packaging regulations in 1999 but did not register until 2020. 

The regulations are designed to ensure that businesses fund the recycling of the waste they create, the Environment Agency said. 

Shropshire Wildlife Trust will use the payments to offer 27 fully funded visits to its Wood Lane Nature Reserve for schools from the Telford area.

A second project will engage local teenagers and young people in Telford in using their local green spaces in a positive way through five weekend workshops each year for the next three years.

Ellie Larkham, trust education and learning manager for Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said the funding “would support Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Education and Learning Team to bring schools to our Wood Lane nature reserve for an unforgettable trip”.

Larkham said: “Schools tell us that they struggle to fund off-site trips like this, particularly with the increasing cost of coach travel, but they are reluctant to pass on costs to parents.

“We want to ensure that this funding has a legacy, so it is really exciting to have the opportunity to work with a group of the most engaged schools to embed outdoor learning in their curriculum.

“The whole school community will be encouraged to take ownership of the green spaces around their school, which can lead to improvements in the local environment for everyone.” 

A spokesperson from Rosewood Pet Products said: “As soon as we became aware of our non-compliance with the legislation we pro-actively righted the wrong through a process of notifying the Environment Agency and ensuring steps were put into place to ensure future compliance with all environmental legislation.

“We have since established an environmental management system on site, certified to the recognised standard ISO 14001. 

“We chose to make our donation to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust as not only being local but on the merits of the suggested project, which will help not only wildlife but the continuing education of local children.” 

Jake Richardson, senior technical officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Protecting the environment and taking action against those that damage or threaten this is our utmost priority.

“While we will always prosecute in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

“They enable businesses to become more compliant and prevent repeat offending by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.”