Key Takeaways
- The Environment Agency (EA) is required to pay landfill tax when clearing illegal waste dumps, which can be a significant cost and a deterrent to taking action.
- The cost of clearing an illegal waste dump in Wigan is estimated to be £4.5m, including £1.5m in landfill tax.
- Organised crime groups are drawn to waste crime because of the potential to make millions of pounds by exploiting the landfill tax.
- The EA is facing criticism for not taking action to clear illegal waste dumps, despite the impact on local communities and the environment.
- The government is being urged to review the regulations surrounding landfill tax and the clearance of illegal waste dumps.
Introduction to the Problem
The Environment Agency (EA) is facing a significant challenge in clearing illegal waste dumps across the country. The agency is required to pay landfill tax when clearing these sites, which can be a substantial cost. In the case of a vast illegal dump at Hoad’s Wood in Kent, the EA has committed to clearing the site, but the cost is estimated to be £15m, with £4m of this being landfill tax. This situation has been described as "ludicrous" by John Russell, a Liberal Democrat peer who has been pushing for the agency to take action.
The Impact on Local Communities
The failure to clear illegal waste dumps is having a significant impact on local communities. In Wigan, a residential street near a primary school has been affected by 25,000 tonnes of rubbish dumped by criminals. The EA has refused to clear the waste, despite the impact on young children and local residents. The site is causing an environmental hazard, with rat infestations, air pollution, and a stench. Local residents are calling for urgent action to be taken to clear the site, but the EA is citing the cost of clearance, including the requirement to pay landfill tax, as a reason for not taking action.
The Role of Organised Crime
Organised crime groups are drawn to waste crime because of the potential to make millions of pounds by exploiting the landfill tax. The gangs can make £2,500 for each articulated lorryload of waste they dump by pocketing the landfill tax and diverting the waste to an illegal dump. This has led to a significant increase in waste crime, with the cost to the taxpayer estimated to be £1bn a year. The EA is facing criticism for not taking action to clear illegal waste dumps, despite the impact on local communities and the environment.
The Need for Transparency and Action
John Russell is calling for full transparency from the EA on the scale of organised criminals illegally dumping thousands of tonnes of waste. He wants to know the location, sizes, types of waste, and what action is being taken to clear up these sites. Russell believes that the current system is broken and that there is a lack of accountability. He is urging the government to review the regulations surrounding landfill tax and the clearance of illegal waste dumps. The EA has said that it is treating the dumping in Wigan as a critical incident and is using all the powers and enforcement tools available to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Response from the Authorities
The EA has said that it is working with other agencies, including the police and local council, to prevent further criminal activity on the site and to minimise the risks and impact on neighbouring residents. The council has said that it understands the impact the site is having on the local community and wants the site cleared as a matter of urgency. However, the council has also stated that the legal and financial landscape for clearing illegal waste sites is complex. The authorities are facing criticism for not taking action sooner, and there are calls for more to be done to address the issue of waste crime and the impact it is having on local communities.
Conclusion
The issue of illegal waste dumps is a significant problem that is having a major impact on local communities and the environment. The EA is facing criticism for not taking action to clear these sites, despite the impact on local residents and the environment. The requirement to pay landfill tax when clearing these sites is a significant cost and a deterrent to taking action. There are calls for the government to review the regulations surrounding landfill tax and the clearance of illegal waste dumps, and for more to be done to address the issue of waste crime. The authorities must take urgent action to clear these sites and to prevent further criminal activity, and there must be greater transparency and accountability in the system.
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