Fly-tippers face new punishments in £45million crackdown
Under the new Waste Crime Action Plan, illegal dumpers could face up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets and parks, as well as repaying the cost of clearing the waste they illegally dumped
Waste criminals face being forced to clean up parks and streets(Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
Waste criminals face fresh punishments under new a £45 million crackdown.
The government and Environment Agency (EA) are set to unveil a sweeping package of measures targeting illegal dumping, with fresh punishments for offenders.
In a bid to stamp out on offending, the EA will also increase its on-the-ground activity against waste criminals, backed by an additional £45 million from the government over the next three years.
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The government will also directly fund the clean-up of some of the worst illegal waste sites in the country including in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire – where a combined 48,000 tonnes of waste has been illegally dumped. The EA has already conducted assessments of these sites, with further action to come.
Ministers will also introduce a Landfill Tax rebate for local authorities that step up to clear sites, easing financial pressures on authorities. Drivers caught illegally dumping waste out of their cars could also be slapped with penalty points, which can lead to motorists losing their licence. Under the new Waste Crime Action Plan, dumpers could face up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets and parks, as well as repaying the cost of clearing the waste they illegally dumped.
Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds said: “Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This Action Plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences. Waste criminals will be forced to join clean up squads and made to pay for the clearing of illegal waste sites. We will give enforcement officers new police-style powers to bring offenders to justice.”
Last week this newspaper revealed ministers were looking at handing the EA and its enforcement officers new powers, allowing them to hit criminals behind illegal waste where it hurts by disrupting their finances. As part of a new 10 Point Plan also published, the EA has set out new powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately, with no warning. Any operator who ignores a restriction notice faces up to 51 weeks in prison.
Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Philip Duffy said: “Waste crime is not a new issue, but the threat is evolving and our response needs to move up a gear. We will act earlier, faster and smarter by shutting down illegal sites before they become established, using our powers decisively to strip rogue operators of their permits, and working with police, HMRC and councils to go after criminal assets. But we can’t fight this battle on our own and will need the public’s eyes and ears to report illegal dumping through Crimestoppers or our incident hotline.”
