Serious pollution incidents in the waste sector rose by 35% last year, according to a report published today (October 31) by the Environment Agency with a particular increase in incidents at biowaste facilities.
The sustainable business report 2011 explains that serious pollutionincidents for industry as a wholefell to their lowest level for over a decadelast year. But, companies involved in waste activities caused 101 serious incidents, up from 75 incidents in 2010.
And, the Agency notes that a particular increase was seen at biowaste sites, including composting sites, where incidents rose from 11 in 2010 to 38 in 2011 a rise of 245%.
Serious incidents are those which have a significant impact on the environment.
Giving a possible reason for the trend, the Agency says in the report: The biowaste and waste treatment sectors continue to grow in size and complexity. This is because more waste is diverted from landfill into treatment and recovery processes.
“Also, changes in regulations require more sites to hold a permit. In the biowaste sector, for example, the number of permits increased from just over 300 at the start of 2010 to almost 700 by the end of 2011.
Biowaste
The report adds that, because the biowaste sector was new to regulation, it was also responsible for the highest number of serious pollution incidents per 100 permits among regulated businesses in 2011, responsible for 5.5 incidents per 100 permits as opposed to an average of 0.8. A large number of these incidents related to odour.
Looking at prosecutions for environmental offences, the report goes on to explain that 104,000 in fines were handed out to biowaste companies in 2011, compared to 77,940 in fines for waste storage, treatment and transfer companies and 40,500 to landfill site operators.
It also explains that biowaste sites are of the most public interest ie generate the most complaints or local concern after incinerators and cement kilns.
Waste
On waste more generally, the report explains that at the end of 2011/12 the Agency knew about 1,175 illegal waste sites – twice as many as at the end of 2010/11.
The Agency said: This increase is mainly due to the increased focus we have given to this work through our Waste Sites Task Force gathering more information about illegal waste sites.
Almost a third of these sites were dealing with construction and demolition waste, 23% household/commercial waste and 22% end of life vehicles and vehicle parts.
During the year, the Agency stopped 759 illegal waste sites from operating and brought 89 sites into regulation, through permitting or exemptions.
However, it identified 1,013 new illegal waste sites in 2011/12.
Commenting on the report, Environment Agency chairman, Lord Chris Smith, said: Reassuringly, the latest performance record shows businesses are increasingly recognising there is a value and opportunity in this broader sense of responsibility.
“However, theres no room for complacency as a minority of businesses are still bad neighbours and the environmental impacts from their activities result in complaints from local communities.
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“The Environment Agency will continue to work with businesses, Government and communities to tackle serious pollution and irresponsible business practice.
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