As part of wider plans to reform the waste industry, the Government has set out proposals in two new consultations that will clamp down on waste crime and support people and businesses to manage waste correctly.
Proposals include background checks for firms who move or trade waste as well as making it easier for regulators across the UK to take action against rogue operators. The Government is also planning to introduce mandatory digital waste tracking, which will enable regulators to better detect illegal activity and tackle waste crime, including fly-tipping, illegal waste sites, and illegal waste exports.
Commenting, Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay said:
“Organised criminals profit through illegally exporting waste abroad, or dumping it in gateways, laybys, lanes and on farmland. Fly-tipping is a blight on our countryside in Cornwall and enough is enough.
“Tackling waste crime is a priority. The measures announced today will allow waste to be tracked back to its source and those involved in illegal waste activities will feel the full force of the law.”
Resources and Waste Minister Jo Churchill said:
“Waste criminals show complete disregard for our communities, the environment and the taxpayer. We have disrupted these rogue operators by giving extra powers to the Environment Agency, with nearly 1,000 illegal waste sites now being shut down each year, while our new Joint Unit for Waste Crime is successfully disrupting criminal gangs, for example, successfully prosecuting fly tippers illegally dumping hundreds of tonnes of hazardous waste across the countryside.”
“But there is more to do. Reforming the licensing system will clamp down on abuse of the system and new mandatory digital waste tracking will greatly improve transparency in the sector, making it easier to prosecute offenders successfully.”