A book distribution firm has been forced to pay almost £30,000 for failing to recycle its packaging.

Baker & Taylor was found guilty of failing to recover and recycle more than 1,900 tonnes of packaging waste between 1997 and last year.

The firm, of Charbridge Way, Bicester, was ordered to pay a £20,000 fine, costs of £1,080 and £8,354 in compensation for lost registration fees.

Bicester magistrates heard that in December 2005, the Environment Agency wrote to Baker & Taylor, formerly known as Advanced Marketing UK Ltd and Aura Books Ltd, as part of compliance checks.

At the time, the company had an annual turnover of £32m and had handled 244 tonnes of packaging in the previous year.

By law, a company handling 50 tonnes of packaging and with a turnover greater than £2m must be registered with the agency or a compliance scheme and show it has met targets for recycling packaging and invested in recycling.

Environment Agency officer Sue Gebbels said: "The failure by this company to ensure it met its responsibilities means there was less investment in the recycling industry than there should have been."

No-one was available for comment at Baker & Taylor.