Minutes:
David Hudson (Environment Agency Manager for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire) presented a verbal report regarding the growing national problem of waste crime.
David Hudson advised that instances of large-scale waste abandonment had increased and that this represented a distinct challenge to that of conventional forms of waste crime such as littering or fly-tipping. He reported that in 2015, illegal waste activity was estimated to have cost over £600million in England alone, with some estimates suggesting an even higher figure of £1billion.
David Hudson reported that organised criminal activity accounted for many instances of serious waste crime. He displayed some slides which demonstrated the scale of the problem and advised that remote locations were often targeted alongside abandoned buildings, agricultural land and construction sites.
David Hudson stated that large-scale abandonment of waste constituted an obstacle to redevelopment due to the high cost of clearance and disposal, and that as an outcome a negative value had been attached to many affected sites. He commented that a serious risk to safety had been identified in many cases and drew attention to the abandoned Twyford factory in Staffordshire which had been accessed illegally to house thousands of bales of waste. He advised that, in the event of a fire, it was considered likely that the site would burn for over five weeks resulting in widespread disruption to transport infrastructure and serious implications for the local economy.
David Hudson outlined the motives of waste crime and reported that organised criminals sought to avoid disposal costs and landfill tax by illegally dumping materials. He added that it was common for hazardous and high-risk waste to be disguised as low-risk waste, contributing to an exacerbated problem for landowners duped into accepting waste by scammers.
David Hudson advised that Defra had set up an independent review into serious and organised waste crime in 2018. The review found that this type of activity had been subject to deliberate colonisation by existing criminal groups who had identified it as a potentially lucrative opportunity. David Hudson reported that a Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) had been established which included representation from law enforcement agencies, environmental regulators, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA).
David Hudson reported that in each of the 20 cases of waste abandonment referred by the Environment Agency (EA) to the NCA, it had been found that the perpetrators were involved in other forms of unlawful activity including drug-related crime. It was considered that early intervention, prevention and disruption were essential strategies in addressing the problem; David Hudson stated that partnership working with local authorities would be required to make a positive impact. He emphasised the importance of acting quickly to detect and report cases of waste crime to enable a swift response from all the agencies involved. He advised that, where evidence existed, the EA could seize plant equipment and prevent further incursions.
David Hudson identified measures which could be taken by local authorities to address the problem of waste crime, including:
· Engagement with the public including guidance in respect of the early signs of large-scale waste crime (to encourage reporting by members of the public and enable early detection) and promotion of the Environment Agency telephone number;
· Engagement with landowners to provide advice in advance of possible contact from fraudsters including the need for clear and robust tenancy agreements;
· A briefing for Council Officers to improve awareness and facilitate early intervention.
David Hudson added that scheduling of a meeting with Warwickshire County Council and partner organisations to consider the implications of waste crime across the region could offer benefits.
In response to Councillor Fradgley, David Hudson advised that, in many instances, a landowner is duped into giving consent for their land to be used to store waste materials. He commented that the perpetrators often appeared to be credible with a seemingly legitimate explanation for their request; later it became apparent that the material would not be collected as agreed. He advised that it was often left to the landowner to cover the cost of disposal.
Councillor Bell commented that the EA had reacted effectively to a report of waste crime in North Warwickshire, however it had been felt that the Police did not have a clear understanding of the nature of the offence. She suggested that a briefing for the Police would be beneficial. David Hudson responded that a meeting between the EA and the Police had been scheduled, alongside work already being undertaken with the Rural Crime Team, to ensure that all Officers are able to react effectively.
In response to Councillor Norris, David Hudson advised that, despite diligence shown by local authorities, examples of waste materials being diverted from their intended destinations had been observed in parts of the UK. He stated that even a seemingly secure supply chain could be subject to abuse and that it was known for official documents to be falsified.
Action
Andrew Pau (Strategy and Commissioning Manager, Waste & Environment) agreed that continued vigilance was needed. He stated that he felt it would be possible to arrange the proposed meeting with Warwickshire Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Waste Collection and Disposal Officers (District, Borough and County), Environmental Health, Planning Officers, EA and any other interested parties.