With The Government vowing to give the Environment Agency £5million towards combating waste crime over the next two years, one waste management company wants to educate the manufacturing industry of how this will affect them.
Worksop based, CTS Environmental work with organisations big and small right across Yorkshire to ensure they are following the right waste management avenues for their industry, and potentially saving them from court appearances, prosecution, fines or on site accidents from inappropriate storage of waste.
Cheryl Sanderson, Chartered waste manager for CTS explains: “The Government and its agencies really are starting to crack down on criminals operating in the waste management industry, on average they are shutting 25 illegal sites a week and prosecuting those at fault.
“Sadly, I see time and time again – it’s innocent business owners and key decision makers of organisations that are also getting caught up in the cross fire having been mis-advised of their waste movement options.
“As the producer of the waste, businesses are accountable for any illegal activity performed with it, be it fly tipping, burning, even mixing waste but also the incorrect declaring of waste. By simply taking business waste to a local authority refuse facility, using the wrong European Waste Catalogue Code or proprietors not having a licence for the waste to be moved or even stored on site can all lead to prosecution.
“Criminals operate in the waste management industry as there is a quick buck to be made as they don’t have the same over heads as legitimate waste management sites. Criminal activity causes pollution incidents in the environment, clearing up after them leaves the country with less money to spend on other essential services such as education or healthcare. ”
Cheryl concludes: “To combat waste crime, business owners can make simple checks to ensure that waste management companies have the correct licences to legally collect, handle and either recycle or dispose of waste.
“Businesses also need to ensure they have the correct licence to create the waste but also the correct classification codes in place for the type of waste being stored on site and that the whole waste management process is legitimate and environmentally sound.”
