Environment Agency in collaboration with the DVSA, Surrey Police, Commercial Vehicle Unit and GAIN are kick-starting the initiative "Right Waste Right Place" to crack down on illegal waste crime.
This operation is targeting companies and individuals who transport and store waste without proper authorisations. It means, that waste transported without appropriate permits, treatment or segregation ends up at unregulated landfill sites, where they pose risk to health and the environment. Such sites store waste in large quantities for long periods of time, where it creates a fire risk, which can lead to the pollution of air, water and soil. Also, illegal waste sites can be the cause of odour nuisance.
Senior Environmental Crime Officer, Gill Clayton, said "This is a very busy time of the year for the waste industry as the excess of Christmas can be seen in the sheer amount of waste produced. We see a surge of not only packaging waste but also unwanted electrical items and general household goods, which householders want to get rid of as a part of their new year clean. We want to make it very clear to people that everyone has a duty of care to ensure their waste is managed and disposed of correctly by the people they give it to. If you use illegal waste carriers to take your rubbish you risk being fined up to £5,000."
During the multi-agency day, the DVSA stopped six vehicles and, together with the officers from the other agencies made checks to identify non-compliance, with the result of a couple vehicles seized for failing to comply with the law. At the same time after visiting a number of industrial sites, the environment officers found an unauthorised waste transfer station being operated by a skip company without any environmental permits in place.
People or businesses who transport, buy, sell or dispose of waste, or arrange for someone to do so, must be registered.
