Waste crime fines reach a record £3m

by Stephen Hurrell. Published Thu 30 Jul 2009 15:51, Last updated: 2009-07-30

Flytipping is a major problem in rural areas

A record £3 million in fines was issued last year for waste crimes – including flytipping and illegal export of waste – according to the Environment Agency.

The amount has doubled from £1.4 million in just five years as the Government watchdog clamps down on all types of waste crime.

The figures released today show a link between the increase in fines and the creation of an Environmental Crime Team last year. The 20-strong team of experts specialises in recovering the proceeds of waste crime.

Further measures were taken last month after a survey showed 94 percent of farmers had experienced flytipping on their land. The ‘Recognise, Report, Reduce’ campaign used an online system to report flytippers across the UK. Flytipping costs the Environment Agency an estimated £100-£150 million per year.

This week Red Bull received a record £270,000 fine for failing to report packaging waste to the Agency, and last month a West Midlands metal recovery company was fined £15,000 for illegally exporting hazardous waste cables to China.

The operator of an illegal landfill site in Cheshire was fined £50,000 in March for allowing thousands of tonnes of controlled waste to be deposited.

In total, 454 cases led to prosecution, with several large fines and prison sentences handed out for various offences.

Liz Parkes, Head of Waste and Resource Management at the Environment Agency, said: “This is not about people putting rubbish in the wrong bins – we concentrate on those individuals and companies whose illegal activities have the potential to cause serious damage to the environment.

“The rules on how to handle, transport and dispose of waste are in place to protect the environment and people’s health, in this country and abroad. The Environment Agency takes swift and decisive action against anyone who flouts these strict controls.

“The increase in the level of fines reflects how seriously the Environment Agency and the courts are taking waste offences.”