One of the ways to stop crime in the waste sector is through working with Government to improve the regulatory system to make it harder for crime to be possible.

Proposed changes to the waste exemptions regime will bring protection to legitimate businesses in the waste industry, because we know that some types of waste exemptions have been routinely used by unscrupulous operators to hide illegal waste activities from regulatory control, whilst providing a veil of legitimacy.

Check what is changing and get yourself ready for change, as you may need to restrict your waste activity, get a permit or stop altogether.

See this Environment Agency blog to find out more.

This week at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court saw the successful prosecution of Colleen Hooper for fly tipping in Sainsbury’s car park Newton Abbot.

Two black sacks along with a council black recycling box that included household waste, face masks and used COVID test kits were dumped next to the recycling skips labelled for recycling plastic, glass, and cardboard etc. There is a large sign informing patrons that any waste or recycling left outside of the skips would be treated as an offence of fly tipping and could result in a fine or prosecution. There are similar signs on the skips themselves. None of the items that Ms Hooper dumped were those that could have been placed in the skips for recycling.

Ms Hooper had failed to pay the fixed penalty notice (FPN) issued by the Council and Newton Abbot Magistrates Court found Ms Hooper guilty of the offence and she was ordered to pay a fine of £440 plus a surcharge of £179 and the council were awarded its full costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case which amounted to £865.08 totalling the amount owed under the Court Order to £1,481.08.

The Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is reminding businesses, such as takeaways, sandwich bars. care homes and retailers who supply certain single use plastic items, that a ban comes in to force this October.

The Government ban, includes the supply of existing and new stock and will cover all types of single-use plastic – including biodegradable, compostable, recycled and items made wholly or partly from plastic, including the coating or lining.

Certain plastic items such as straws, stirrers and cotton buds have already been banned, which combined with the new restrictions will have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and littering.

Businesses who have not already made the switch should start thinking about alternatives now to meet this deadline.

‘Waste crime encompasses a range of illegal activities, including dumping, burning, illegal shipping of waste, mis-describing waste, and operating illegal waste sites.

Waste criminals put us all at risk every time they break the law. Their toxic crimes cause widespread and significant harm to people, places and the economy.

Waste criminals are all around us: Respondents estimate that a fifth of all waste produced may be illegally managed – that’s approximately 34 million tonnes every year across England, enough to fill 4 million skips.

The findings of this Environment Agency survey will now be used to shape the strategic response to waste crime.’