In recent months there have been several successful convictions for waste crimes. They range from relatively small fines to several months of jail time. It’s a positive that convictions are being achieved, but it’s a very small drop in the £1 billion ocean of waste crime.
Industry reports suggest that the problem is not mere ignorance or oversight. While admittedly navigating waste and environmental laws are complex, many offenders have a history of ignoring warnings and failing to remedy the damage done even when it’s been pointed out to them by authorities.
Some may argue that it’s not hard to fall fowl of the laws in waste management. Wrongly classifying waste, or transporting it in the incorrect way, could easily land a company in hot water. The question is whether it’s a mistake made due to lack of expertise, lack of proper process, or blatant disregard for the law? And should these be treated differently when it comes to prosecuting offenders?
For most dedicated professionals in the industry, having to contend with waste crime is a huge frustration. Especially when the mandate is to reduce environmental damage caused by commerce and create secondary economies form materials already in circulation. It’s hard enough getting public participation, government support and cohesive industry standards. Having to divert effort and funding to fight waste crime is a challenge the industry could do without.
What’s even more concerning is the apathy of the cost to human health and the environment, especially when it’s hazardous waste that’s being illegally dumped. Like asbestos that’s being buried amongst other mixed construction waste or chemicals being pumped into water ways. In other cases, waste processors have purported to conduct legal operations while not adhering to site limits, the types of waste they can accept or the proper processes.
On several sites this resulted in fires causing major damage. At other landfill sites the odour has gotten so bad that communities are seeking legal action outside of what the Environmental Agency can do. There are concerns that while some smaller operators are being caught and prosecuted, a much bigger problem is larger criminal syndicates making waste a profitable business. It seems that waste processing is a convenient way to launder funds or hide other more serious illegal activities.
The more the waters are muddied by illegal operations the harder it is for local authorities to run effective waste processing operations. Some suggest that rather than try to police everything, the focus should be on revenues, because after all, the money motivation is what’s at the heart of waste crime.
Recent figures indicate that there is a significant landfill tax gap that has widened in recent years. During covid the volumes of waste increased dramatically, and with it the amount of illegal dumping and waste crime. People saw it as an easy way to make a quick buck, turning properties into landfill and accepting waste loads to generate revenue.
Many of these operations are family run, are not properly permitted or do not have the right people or processes in place. With a lack of expertise, it’s all too easy to classify waste incorrectly to avoid paying higher taxes. Alternatively, people accepting loads conveniently turn a blind eye aiding criminal activity. When the waste volumes don’t add up to the revenues that should be generated, it’s an opportunity to not only close the landfill tax gap, but to also deal with waste crime. Having experienced and suitably qualified people on site means can help identify discrepancies. This can discourage those companies claiming ignorance and make it harder for criminals to continue with illegal processing and dumping of waste. It’s one of many approaches that could be used to combat waste crime and central to it, is having the right expertise in the right positions on site.
