Waste crime prosecutions fall in 2012/13

The number of successful prosecutions for waste crime fell in 2012/13, a report published today (October 14) by the Environment Agency shows.

According to the Agencys annual Waste Crime Report 2012-2013, there were 171 successful prosecutions for waste crime last year, compared to 249 the previous year and 262 in 2010/11.

And, the Agency (EA) secured only 1.3 million from illegal waste activities through the Proceeds of Crime Act in 2012/13 nearly 1 million less than during the previous year. This partly reflects a reduction in confiscation orders to 12 last year compared to 26 in 2011/12.

The importance of confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) is highlighted by the Agency in the report. It states: We believe POCA can have a considerable impact on any waste crime offender possibly more than the conviction and sentence.

In contrast to the fall in number of successful prosecution, more illegal waste sites were shut down over the year, with a record 1,279 closed up from 716 in 2011/12. The Agency said that this 70% increase was due to a greater use of intelligence, improved partnerships and the work of the 4.9 million illegal waste site task force set up two years ago.

Prosecutions

The report does not include figures on the number of unsuccessful prosecutions last year, or how many cases did not make it to court.

However, the Agency said that prosecution wasnt the only solution to waste crime and that in the last year it had been focussing on preventing illegal waste exports and closing down illegal waste sites, as well as putting more effort into giving advice and guidance to operators on dealing with waste legally

Matt Crocker, head of illegals and waste at the Environment Agency, told letsrecycle.com he believed the number of unsuccessful prosecutions was small.

He explained that the drop in the number of prosecutions and confiscation orders was only part of the story, adding that he was proud of the number of waste sites shut down last year.

Mr Crocker said: The amount of money recouped through the Proceeds of Crime Act will vary. Sometimes it will take a considerable amount of time to bring cases to court so the amount is just part of the story.

If someone is operating an illegal waste site they may not be paying landfill tax so there are other economic benefits.

‘We are proud of the fact that we have done better than ever and we are constantly looking to do more and faster. The challenge that we have got is not reducing by any means.’

Matt Crocker, head of illegals and waste, Environment Agency

Mr Crocker added: The fines are for the courts to decide and they take a whole range of factors into account to do that. We are there to stop misery for businesses and residents caused by waste crime.

The Agency spent 17m on tackling waste crime last year, the report reveals, which equates to 7% of the EAs total 243 million spend on environmental protection.

Criticism

The Agencys report on waste crime comes just days after criticism was levelled at it by two MPs over Kent RDF firm Waste4Fuels site in Orpington, where large amounts of waste is being illegally stored and there have been a spate of fires (see letsrecycle.com story).

Mr Crocker said: I am not familiar with that particular case in Kent but I can absolutely understand that if you are living nearby to these kinds of waste activities it must cause a lot of stress and that is why we have been shutting these sites down.

He added: We would like the magic button to shut these sites down in five minutes, but we havent got that.

We are proud of the fact that we have done better than ever and we are constantly looking to do more and faster. The challenge that we have got is not reducing by any means.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) estimates that waste crime currently generates more than 12 billion per year in the UK, employing 128,000 people. It is estimated to divert 1 billion a year from legitimate business and HM Treasury.

Ed Mitchell, director of environment and business at the Environment Agency, said: Waste crime puts people and the environment at risk, and undermines the legitimate waste industry. We are taking tough action to deal with this problem, through the improved use of intelligence and stronger partnerships with the police and other enforcement bodies. The two year Illegal Waste Sites Taskforce has been hugely successful in slashing the number of illegal waste sites operating in England.