The plan was launched in March 2026 with the intention of creating a more targeted approach to tackling waste crime.
The Waste Crime Programme Board will provide strategic oversight of the delivery of Defra’s Waste Crime Programme, which includes the action plan.
The Board brings together officer representatives from:
- Defra
- The Environment Agency
- Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)
- The Local Government Association
- The Home Office
- The Department for Transport
- HM Treasury
- HM Revenue and Customs
Defra told letsrecycle.com that the board supports the Senior Responsible Owner by overseeing programme delivery, monitoring strategic risks and dependencies, scrutinising business cases, and reviewing progress towards programme objectives and benefits.
It will also aim to coordinate cross-government and cross-sector action to tackle waste crime and improve the effectiveness of the regulatory and enforcement response.
The Environment Agency and partner organisations have engaged in accelerated action to tackle waste crime.
This includes the 18-week “Operation Unite” campaign which resulted in 17 environmental permits being suspended or entering the revocation process.
The action has been supported by the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), which was established to tackle serious and organised crime in the UK’s waste sector.
The taskforce released its annual report last month, which showed that it had supported 61 enforcement operations during 2025/26.
Commenting on the release of the report, Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at CIWM, said: “Hats off to the Government, the Environment Agency, regulators and partners for recent hard-hitting actions against waste crime across the UK. They’ve listened to the professional resources and waste sector and have stepped up to the plate in tackling the scourge of waste crime.
“The JUWC report, in addition to recent Environment Agency and Government initiatives under Operation Unite and the Tackling Waste Crime Action Plan, shows impressive results. It demonstrates our joint determination to go after cowboys and criminals profiting from waste crime, undermining our sector, causing misery and anxiety in communities, and damaging local economies and environments.
“There is still much work to do. CIWM and its members continue to drive towards higher professional standards in our vital sector. We will also continue to support the JUWC and regulators to further disrupt, prevent and pursue criminality in waste, and to protect communities and the reputation of our essential sector.”
It was also announced last week that Emma Hardy has been made the Minister of State with the responsibility for the circular economy and waste crime at Defra. It is understood that this is the first time a minister has had the direct responsibility for waste crime.
Waste Crime Action Plan
In March 2026, the government released its Waste Crime Action Plan, which included an additional £45 million in funding for the Environment Agency.
The plan sets out what ministers describe as a “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal dumping across England, aiming to tackle illegal activity at its source, close regulatory loopholes, and strengthen the ability of enforcement bodies to intervene earlier.
Waste crime is estimated to cost the English economy between £1 billion and £2 billion annually, with roughly 20% of waste thought to be handled illegally.
Anyone with information about suspected waste crime is encouraged to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Interested in learning more about Digital Waste Tracking and the government’s approach to waste crime? Join us at:
- The Digital Waste Tracking Conference in London on 20 October 2026. Find out more and buy tickets here.
- The Waste Crime Conference in London on 3 November 2026. Find out more and buy tickets here.
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