By SUZANNE ELSWORTH

WARRINGTON businesses are being urged to go green or pay the price by a top environmental charity.

Groundwork is holding a seminar at the end of the month, designed to educate bosses about new legislation relating to recycling.

Under recent regulations, businesses can be fined for not recycling the packaging which they manufacture, use, pass on to customers or import. One company has already received a fine and costs of £10,500 for failing to comply with these regulations.

The seminar is to be run by the Halton Business Environment Association, which is managed by Groundwork. It will provide companies with the information they need in order to assess whether they are obligated by these regulations.

In addition, they will be able to take part in a workshop, hear from a company about the practical side of complying with the new rules and seek confidential expert advice from professional advisors.

Howard Thorp, of the Environment Agency, which enforces this legislation, said: "Companies which ignore these regulations and are found to be doing so will face prosecution by the agency and have to deal with the associated costs and bad publicity such a prosecution can bring."

The seminar will run from 8.30am to 11.30am on Wednesday, January 31. It costs £23.50 for non-Halton Business Environment Association members and is free to all members. For information call 0151 420 9409 or 01625 572681.