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

Baker & Taylor was found guilty of failing to recover and recycle more than 1,900 tonnes of rubbish between 1997 and 2006.

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

Bicester Magistrates' Court 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 routine compliance checks.

At the time, the company had an annual turnover of £32m and had handled approximately 244 tonnes of packaging in the previous calendar year. Under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, a company handling 50 tonnes of packaging and with a turnover greater than £2m must be registered with the Environment Agency or a compliance scheme.

Each year, the company must also provide evidence of payment for the recovery and recycling of a specified proportion of packaging waste, including wood, alluminium, steel, cardboard and plastic. To deal with the remaining packaging, companies are expected to invest in the recycling industry.

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