A Bradford toy wholesaler has been fined £14,000 and ordered to pay more than £6,000 in compensation after admitting packaging waste offences.

Woolbro (Distributors) Ltd appeared before Bradford Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to 15 offences.

The company, of Bolling Road, Bradford, should have been registered with the Environment Agency and was obliged to recover and recycle a portion of its packaging waste, as well as filing a certificate at the end of each year to confirm it had met these obligations.

But Woolbro, which imports and distributes toys, did not register with the Environment Agency.

Trevor Cooper, for the Environment Agency, said by failing to register the company avoided Packaging Recovery Note costs and registration fees of at least £6,833.

He told the court aggravating features were the length of time over which the offences were committed and that the company avoided registration because it failed to check its responsibilities.

The bench heard Woolbro had not fully co-operated with the Environment Agency during its investigation.

In addition to the £14,000 fine, magistrates ordered the firm to pay compensation to the Environment Agency of £6,104 to cover the unpaid registration fees, as well as prosecution costs of £2,365.

Ian Ponter, for Woolbro, said: “The company takes its waste responsibilities very seriously. There is no suggestion these offences led to environmental harm.”