Cracking down on Waste Crime
04/01/2012
Ilegal waste is becoming a huge problem in the UK and can cause serious damage to the environment, health and fire risks . Not only that, it can put legitimate waste companies out of business and is costing the tax payer thousands of pounds year after year.
The Environment Agency have recently produced the following figures in waste crime: 1 April 2011 there were 661 active illegal waste sites, 540 (82%) are active sites within 200 metres of a sensitive receptor. A sensitive receptor being either dwellings, schools, businesses etc. Over 800,000 fly tipping incidents were dealt with by local authorities in England and Wales in 2010/11.
There were 725 illegal dumping incidents dealt with by the Environment Agency in 2010/11. However, on a positive note, the Environment Agency also achieved the following successes: The waste exports team made intelligence-led inspections of 213 containers. 98% of those targeted were found to be illegal. An incredible 4,500 tonnes of waste were prevented from being exported illegally.
In 2010/11 the EA stopped illegal waste activity at 1195 sites. This was done by either closing them down (85%) or ensuring that they began to operate legally by assisting them in obtaining a permit or registering them under an exemption.
If you think that you are not operating under the correct permit and would like advice on what qualifications you or your employees require in order to operate correctly then please do not hesitate to contact our sales manager, Paul Davis on 01263 710070.
Statistics are taken from the Environment Agency website as of 05/01/12.