The EA (Environment Agency) is highlighting the scale of waste crime through a new campaign that urges farmers to be vigilant in stopping waste criminals.
The EA reports that networks of organised criminal gangs operating across the country are targeting privately owned property and land, particularly in rural locations, to dump rubbish collected through illegal means.
Financial impact
Landowners are often left with a hefty clean-up bill from any waste dumped on privately-owned land. Costs can reach more than £200,000 and are incurred at the owners own expense.
The EA's 2023 waste crime survey showed that the financial consequences of waste crime are greater compared to previous years, with the cost of clean-up, and disruption to business, being the most commonly experienced impact.
3 ways to protect yourself:
- Check any empty land and property regularly and make sure it is secure.
- Carry out rigorous checks on prospective and new tenants.
Property and landowners are responsible for ensuring anyone leasing their property and land complies with regulations. They are committing an offence by allowing waste to be stored on land or property without the relevant permissions.
This could leave them liable to prosecution. - Be vigilant and report any suspected illegal waste activity to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline. Call 0800 80 70 60.
Waste crime costs the economy in England an estimated £1 billion a year through evaded tax, environmental and social harm, and lost legitimate business, with enough waste managed illegally across the country to fill 4 million skips annually – about 34 million tonnes.
A widespread issue
In 2023, the EA's National Waste Crime Survey found 85% of the landowners and farmers who took part reported being affected by small-scale fly-tipping and 20% by large-scale fly tipping.
Our own fly-tipping survey revealed 85% of respondents felt the problem of fly-tipping in their local area had either not changed or had become worse in the last five years.
Speaking widely about rural crime, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: "Not only does rural crime significantly cost the UK on a national level, but it also has a significant impact personally to those farm businesses and farming families financially and emotionally affected, leaving many rural communities feeling vulnerable and intimidated.”
Vigilance can help prevent crimes
“Our environment is a precious resource and one we need to guard now and for the next generation, but there are networks of criminal gangs operating across the country just waiting to spoil it for everyone,” says Steve Molyneux, EA deputy director of waste regulation.
“They may offer owners cash to store waste at their property or on their land, promising to remove it later. They won’t. Some don’t ask. They break in, dump waste they’ve illegally collected and disappear.
“Waste criminals need access to places to dump the rubbish they illegally collect – but your vigilance can stop them. Shutting them out of property and land is just one tactic to scupper these rogues.”
Read more about the campaign at: GOV.UK | Environment Agency urges property and landowners to be vigilant in stopping waste criminals
