Waste Crime

Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste

The Environment Agency (EA) should be given the power to impose new fines on waste operators that deliberately mislabel their waste to avoid tax rules, according to an independent review ordered by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.


The review, released on Tuesday (14 November), also recommended that compulsory electronic tracking of waste could help clamp down on... More

Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations
Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of having “raided” 400 staff from state environment bodies in order to plug gaps in Defra’s workforce in preparation for Brexit.

Autumn Statement: Plastics tax to be introduced from April 2022
Autumn Statement: Plastics tax to be introduced from April 2022

A tax will be placed on the manufacture and import of plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled plastic, the Treasury’s Autumn Statement has revealed, though a coffee cup levy will not be introduced.

EA to investigate waste plastics exports fraud
EA to investigate waste plastics exports fraud
By
Rob Cole
| 19 October 2018 |
An official investigation has been launched into claims of widespread fraud and system abuse in the plastics recycling industry, with significant discrepancies between the amount of plastic claimed for through the PRN system and the amount recorded as exported by HMRC.
Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report
Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report
By
Rob Cole
| 16 October 2018 |
A new report from the Environment Agency shows that 93 per cent of the businesses it regulated in 2017/18 showed good compliance with their environmental permits, while non-compliant businesses faced record fines.
Image: Flickr/Alan Shanton/Creative Commons
Extended sentence shows waste crime gets jail time
By
Kate Nicholson
| 10 October 2018 |
A jailed fly-tipper has his sentence extended after a further five allegations of waste crime came to light.
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 October 2018 |
A waste disposal company is under investigation after it was found to have built up a backlog of hundreds of tonnes of medical waste, including human body parts.
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 October 2018 |
A new environmental campaign, ‘Drive out waste crime’, has been launched by SEPA to tackle the illegal transport and disposal of waste in the UK.
Right Waste, Right Place campaign teams up with Dsposal
Right Waste, Right Place campaign teams up with Dsposal
By
Kate Nicholson
| 2 October 2018 |
Green tech start-up Dsposal becomes the latest recruit to the Right Waste, Right Place Ambassador programme.
Waste companies fined for worker injuries as HSE inspection campaign begins
Waste companies fined for worker injuries as HSE inspection campaign begins
By
Rob Cole
| 1 October 2018 |
Waste management companies from Derbyshire and Bedfordshire have been fined after workers were injured on their premises as the HSE’s inspection into waste and recycling companies begins.
Mayor urged to clean up fly-tipping capital as ‘crisis point’ is reached
Mayor urged to clean up fly-tipping in capital as ‘crisis point’ is reached
By
Kate Nicholson
| 27 September 2018 |
A London Assembly Member has called on Sadiq Khan to take action on waste, claiming that fly-tipping in the capital has ‘reached crisis point’.
Greater Manchester sees 144 fly-tipping incidents every day
Greater Manchester sees 144 fly-tipping incidents every day
By
Rob Cole
| 6 September 2018 |
New research reveals that 144 incidents of fly-tipping occur every day across the Greater Manchester areas, costing councils nearly £4.9 million in clearance and enforcement, according to a new report.
Two men face charges for multiple waste crimes
Two men face charges for multiple waste crimes
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 September 2018 |
Charges have been brought against two men in Swansea for ‘several years’ worth of illegal activities likely to cause harm to the environment and human health.
Walsall to trial free street skips to tackle fly-tipping
Walsall to trial free street skips to tackle fly-tipping
By
Kate Dickinson
| 31 August 2018 |
Free skips in every ward and free bulky waste collections are one of a number of options being considered by Walsall Council as incidents of fly-tipping in the local authority continue to rise.
More than 66k tonnes of waste finally cleared from Warrington docks
More than 66k tonnes of waste finally cleared from Warrington docks
By
Rob Cole
| 30 August 2018 |
More than 66,000 tonnes tonnes of illegally dumped waste posing a fire hazard have been cleared from a storage site in Warrington.
Over £300,000 available for litter-fighting projects across Britain
By
Gethin Roberts
| 15 August 2018 |
This second round of funding builds on the government’s Litter Strategy for England and seeks innovative solutions to tackle littering.
EA investigates companies for shipping 1,000 tonnes of illegal waste to Poland
By
Gethin Roberts
| 15 August 2018 |
45 containers of waste are being sent back to the UK after being intercepted by officials, while three firms are under criminal investigation amid reports of involvement with the ‘trash mafia’.
Bike-share companies accused of creating e-waste mountains
Bike-share companies accused of creating e-waste mountains
By
Kate Dickinson
| 10 August 2018 |
The Basel Action Network has called for app-based bike hire companies to ensure they have proper recycling policies in place after bikes were found dumped in China and the USA.
Industry group calls for tougher regulation to prevent waste crime
Industry group calls for tougher regulation to prevent waste crime
By
Kate Dickinson
| 8 August 2018 |
The group, made up of representatives from the ESA, CIWM and UROC, has set out its recommendations for the government in advance of the publication of its Resources and Waste Strategy.
Six-fold increase in average fines imposed by Environment Agency
By
Gethin Roberts
| 24 July 2018 |
The average fine against a company has risen from £23,731 in 2013/14 to £147,575 in 2017/18.
China uncovers nearly 1m tonnes of illegally smuggled waste
China uncovers nearly 1m tonnes of illegally smuggled waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 July 2018 |
The Chinese Government has intercepted huge amounts of waste in the first half of 2018 as its crackdown on smuggling continues. 
Environment Agency warns of illegal waste dumping trend
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The regulator has called for vigilance amongst landlords as criminals are renting properties in order to dispose of illegal waste.
North Lincolnshire Council invests £2 million in refuse vehicle CCTV
North Lincolnshire Council invests £2 million in refuse vehicle CCTV
By
Gethin Roberts
| 13 July 2018 |
The council says the 13 new vehicles will boost efficiency amid drives to increase the area’s waste and recycling productivity.