Organized criminal gang-throwing gangs are growing and costing millions on advice.
A new report says the government is fighting a losing battle against the threat, and the latest figures show that the number of complaints against it has exceeded one million.
An investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) shows that the number of reported flies incidents, most of which include small minibuses with household waste dumped on highways, has increased over the last decade, reaching more than 1.13 million in 2020. / 2021 – the clean-up costs local authorities £ 11.6 million.
However, prosecutions have more than halved between 2019/20 and 2020/21, while the number of fixed penalties issued has fallen by 24%.
Raising the landfill tax has led to a huge drop in landfills, but has also increased the money criminals can make from illegal tax evasion, such as throwing flies, misrepresenting waste and creating illegal landfills. waste.
Efforts by the Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency to tackle waste crime have been hampered by a lack of data to assess the full scale of the problem, according to the NAO.
There are particular gaps in their understanding of how much dangerous waste is exported illegally and causes serious damage to the environment and human health in the countries to which it is sent.
“It is not a crime without victims”
The report also says that while the Environment Agency receives special government funding to tackle the problem, many other organizations involved in the fight are not doing so and have instead seen cuts in their budgets.
In response to the investigation, MP Meg Hillier, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The crime of waste is not a crime without victims. As well as being ugly and polluting, it costs the economy almost £ 1 billion a year. But that can only be the tip of the iceberg.
“Waste crimes are increasingly dominated by organized crime gangs, but the Environment Agency is fighting a losing battle. With just £ 17 million a year spent on law enforcement, it is considered toothless to deal with the law and bring criminals to justice. “
Image: The number of flies increased in the United Kingdom during the coronavirus blockade
The number of cases where the Environment Agency has prosecuted organizations for waste-related crimes has fallen from a peak in 2007/08 from nearly 800 to about 50 a year since 2017, the NAO said.
The most common sanctions of the agency are giving advice and sending warning letters.
“Legalization of garbage”
Jim McMahon, Labor’s shadow secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, said: “This is a shameful accusation of the government’s negligence in combating for our country “.
The Liberal Democrats accused the government of effectively “legalizing garbage” and called for fines from higher courts to go to an anti-crime fund.
Lib Dem spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: “It is outrageous that while the vast majority of people play by the rules, lawbreakers benefit from this heinous practice and get away with it.”
Read more: Do-it-yourself waste disposal fees can be eliminated “Disgusting” tips for flies increased during the blockade
However, Resource and Waste Secretary Joe Churchill insisted that Defra was fighting waste-related crime.
“We are reforming the licensing system by introducing mandatory digital tracking of waste, investing in tackling flies and supporting people to do the right thing by disposing of their waste properly,” she said.
The Environment Agency said earlier this month that it had developed a strategy “led by intelligence, co-operation and high-tech” focused on fighting the worst criminals.
The scale is lowered
While the agency reported a decline in the number of illegal waste dumps in recent years, it acknowledged that blocking the coronavirus meant that its staff were less able to track them.
NAO chief Gareth Davis said: “Defra and the Environment Agency agree that their data significantly underestimate the scale of some types of waste crime. The available evidence shows that waste crime is on the rise and organized crime is becoming more and more involved.
“The government needs to direct resources efficiently and understand what progress it is making towards the goal of eliminating waste crime by 2043.”
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