The Government has announced that in a bid to tackle illegal waste deposits, i.e. fly-tipping, councils will be working with police to identify, seize and then crush vehicles belonging to waste criminals.
Waste crime is becoming increasingly problematic. The Government say that since 2018/19, fly-tipping has increased by a fifth, but the number of prosecutions has fallen by the same amount. Many crimes have gone unpunished, more waste has been littering the streets, roads, and the countryside.
As a result, a review into legislation that blocks councils from seizing and crushing vehicles is underway. This will include new measures that will see fly-tippers covering the costs incurred by councils in seizing and storing the vehicles. In addition, illegal waste operators who are caught transporting and dealing with waste could face up to five years in prison.
The Environment Agency will also carry out identity and criminal record checks on operators. They will also be given more power to revoke permits, issue enforcement notices as well as fines.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said: "Waste criminals and fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages have gone unpunished for too long. That ends today. The Government is calling time on fly-tipping. I will not stand by while this avalanche of rubbish buries our communities. Under the Plan for Change, this Government will seize and crush fly-tippers' vans to clean up Britain’s streets."
Environment Agency Chief Executive, Philip Duffy, said, "Waste crime is toxic. Criminals’ thoughtless actions harm people, places, and the economy, blighting our communities and disrupting legitimate businesses. At the Environment Agency, we’re determined to bring these criminals to justice through tough enforcement action and prosecutions. That’s why we support the Government’s crackdown on waste criminals, which will ensure we have the right powers to shut rogue operators out of the waste industry."
