Port Coquitlam fire-safety retailer failed to comply with information requests; province recommends fine
The province has recommended that a fire-safety equipment retailor in Port Coquitlam be fined for failing to comply with environmental inspectors.
On Nov. 27, Dragon Ventures Ltd., was cited for the fine after not producing documentation related to provincially mandated recycling regulations. The company was flagged with two non-compliance warnings following a series of office reviews beginning in April.
Dragon Ventures is a family owned business specializing in supplying fire sprinklers, alarms, lighting and other equipment to the marine, industrial and commercial sectors, according its website.
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Crystal Goss, co-owner of Dragon Ventures, told the Dispatch that she was confused by the regulation and how it relates to her company, adding the provincial inspectors have not responded to her emails.
“I don’t even understand what this fine is even about,” Goss said. “I’m a local house office. . . . We don’t send out any catalogues.”
The province said their inspectors’ queries were to determine whether Dragon Ventures met the threshold which would require an Extended Producer Responsibility Plan (ERP) to be in place. However, company representatives failed to properly respond to information requests, resulting in the recommendation for an administrative penalty, according to the province.
B.C.’s ERP aims to make businesses that distribute packaging and paper products to customers – such as flyers, booklets, and catalogues – financially responsible for their end-of-life management. Companies can create their own ERPs, or can appoint RecycleBC to create an ERP for them.
Following a third official request for information in July, Dragon Ventures emailed the inspector stating that its suppliers are responsible for collecting eco-fees for the regulated products it sells.
Dragon Ventures emailed again on Nov. 19, stating: “each municipality has had recycling for years/decades we take our recycling to the proper areas also our suppliers take most back and if they didn’t the return it depo[t] takes that stuff as well.”
The province stated no request for any extension was made by Dragon Ventures, nor did it provide relevant information.
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