The Environment Agency is gathering evidence over a spate of incidents involving waste being placed into trailers, lorries and large ‘ro-ro’ skips and being abandoned at roadsides and remote locations.
The Environment Agency said that containers of waste are simply being abandoned
In a bulletin circulated to stakeholders last week, the Agency said that this “distinctive form of illegal waste disposal” has been taking place across South East England, saving criminals thousands of pounds in waste disposal costs.
Various different types of wastes have been involved in these incidents, the Agency claims, including baled plastic, shredded mixed waste (trommel fines) and worn tyres. These containers are then simply abandoned, usually on the side of roads, the Agency added.
In recent months, several London boroughs are thought to have been impacted by incidents of a similar nature.
In a statement, the Environment Agency reiterated that everyone has a responsibility to check who is taking their waste.
“Waste companies, local authorities and householders all have a responsibility to check what happens to their waste. Waste crime can cause serious pollution to the environment and can put communities at risk. It also undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it.”
This week, the Agency reiterated the responsibility of householders to ensure that their waste is disposed of legally (see letsrecycle.com story), suggesting that unlicensed waste operators target householders via social media or local advertising, “luring” customers with cheaper rates to dispose of items.
Supported
The Environmental Services Association (ESA), which represents the UK’s waste and secondary resource sector, has expressed its support for the Environment Agency’s attention on the issue.
The Agency reiterated its message to householders to ensure that their waste is disposed of legally
In a statement, Sam Corp, head of regulation at the ESA explained that while it is clear that waste criminals are finding more “flagrant” ways to circumvent their legal requirements, more care is needed from those disposing of waste.
“Awareness of waste ‘Duty of Care’ is one of the key components to reducing opportunities for waste criminals. After all, the waste collected and stored in these abandoned trailers will have been produced by businesses and householders, who have perhaps not been diligent enough in following their Duty of Care obligation,” Mr Corp explained.
He added: “Another key recommendation to reducing this type of activity is to raise the standards and requirements for becoming a waste carrier, both to discourage criminals from operating in our sector as well as to enable the regulators to better crack down on those that do.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com General
