waste crime

Chancellor moves to prevent gap between two rates of Landfill tax getting any wider, rather than creating single rate

Police, Environment Agency and the government all criticised by House of Lords committee over ongoing failure to get to grips with organised waste crime and illegal dumping that is estimated to cost the UK taxpayer £1bn a year

New unit will be tasked with carrying out financial investigations targeted at the waste sector

Defra confirms new legislation will lift the limit on civil monetary penalties that can be handed out by environmental agencies

Industry survey reveals widespread fears that waste regulations are being routinely breached by criminal gangs

Environmental Investigations Agency alleges farmers, regulators, and voluntary initiatives are failing to stamp out illegal burning, burying, and exporting of toxic plastic waste

Environment Minister announces fresh moves to tackle dangerous waste practices and pledges to end waste crime by 2043

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticises Defra and the Environment Agency over 'slow and piecemeal' progress in tackling escalating waste crime

Environment Agency waste crime prosecutions have fallen from a high of 800 per year to just 50 in recent years