Since 2013, the UK has spent over £500million each year to address this issue and support those affected. We have seen landlords and landowners fall victim to waste crime operators, councils restricted access to civic amenity sites and small businesses stretched and exploited by disposal and recycling facilities.
With the cost of waste disposal rising and businesses of all sizes and sectors facing increasing pressure to minimise and recycle their waste with limited options, the problem area of waste abandonment has never been more critical to the economy or crucial to understand.
Today we want to highlight just some of the key issues surrounding the subject of waste abandonment and give you an insight into the approaches we are taking to reduce its impact on our climate.
The Key Issues Surrounding Waste Abandonment
Failed Waste Operations
Many waste operations that hold legal permits eventually have to be shut down. The reasons are endless and usually relate to a failure to comply with industry regulations. Waste plants that fall below the set expectations are a real danger to our environment. Health and safety issues include but are not limited to pest infestations, local water pollution and fire caused by spontaneous combustion or more commonly, arson.
Illegal Waste Operators
According to the Environment Agency, the use of warehouses and private property to store illegal waste has almost doubled in England since 2014. Over 1,000 illegal waste sites were uncovered between April 2015 and March 2016, showing an increase of a whopping 82% from 2013-14. Such operators do not have a permit, so they are committing a serious crime even if their actual operations do comply with industry regulations.
Waste Crime Activities
Waste Crime Activities is a broad term, as it encompasses a wide range of unpermitted actions, such as fly-tipping, illegal dumping, arson and extortionate disposal fees, to name just a few. Under current laws, illegal waste left on private land is the responsibility of the landowner. This means that it is their responsibility to pay for the removal of the waste, even if it is not theirs. Nevertheless, if the illegal waste is traced back to a particular household, residents could face fines of up to £5,000.
The Best Approach to Reduce Waste Abandonment
New National Infrastructures
At Broad Group, our team is dedicated to addressing problem sites, supporting public sectors and advising private organisations, which is why we have built a national infrastructure that ensures our clients can remove and process all material in line with waste grading regardless of geographical location.
Compliance with the Environment Agency
Our environmental operations exceed standards and comply with the rigid regulations of the Environment Agency. We work intimately with the DEFRA and some of the world’s biggest commercial property agents on projects that support and supply solutions for the compliant removal and disposal of vast volumes of illegal waste.
Strategic Assessment Services
A strategic assessment is required for all illegal waste abandonment issues. Businesses, landlords and landowners require help recognising practical climate-friendly solutions and employing renewable energy projects that are sustainable. Broad Group consultants are able to characterise, assist, measure and manage the growing issues related to waste abandonment, ensuring the key issues are tackled in the best way possible.
Industrial Sustainability and Environmental Management Systems
We have management systems for just about everything else, so it makes sense for us to support the development and lifelong use of environmental policies that also ensure best practice. Industrial sustainability strategies and environmental management systems (otherwise known as EMS) provides guidance and goals to improve ecological performance.
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