National Press Office
- 13-Mar-2007 - A new system that will automatically
call waste companies such as skip operators
who could be handling waste illegally was
unveiled today by the Environment Agency.
The automated telephone calling system,
which will be piloted in Northumberland
this month, will ring all companies advertising
waste related services in the area that
may not be registered as waste carriers
with the Environment Agency
Arwyn Jones, BREW Project Manager, said:
"By law, all businesses must be registered
if they carry, collect or dispose of waste.
This is to help ensure waste is managed
lawfully in this lucrative industry, and
to help prevent fly-tipping and illegal
dumping. However, out of around the 1,700
businesses we have identified in Northumberland,
only 400 were registered with the Environment
Agency.
"The automated phone call from the
us will remind unregistered firms of the
legislation and allowing them to register
before further action is taken. We know
who these businesses are and this will give
them a much-needed jolt to make sure they
stay on the right side of the law. Ignorance
is no defence and if firms continue to flout
the law then we will track them down, and
if necessary, take them to court."
This automated telephone system is just
one of the innovative projects funded through
the Defra's Business Resource and Efficiency
Waste (BREW) project.
Arwyn Jones continued: "Over the past
two years, we have made significant progress
in tackling waste crimes such as large-scale
illegal dumping of waste. We continue to
work closely with local authorities to tackle
the general problem of smaller scale fly-tipping.
"Often the large scale and complex
cases of illegal dumping of waste are masterminded
by criminals, and so we are now able to
take an intelligence-led approach using
the latest technology and forensic techniques.
This type illegal dumping of waste is not
only an environmental problem, but costs
us all millions each year to clean up.
"Everyone has a duty to make sure
their waste is disposed of legally yet some
people think they can get away with using
rogue traders. We want to stamp out these
illegal businesses so that the only ones
left are those which care about our environment."
+ More
Environment Agency objects to proposed
Washington landfill site
Lucy Harding - 16-Mar-2007 - The Environment
Agency is objecting to the planning application
for a proposed landfill site at Rock Common
Sandpit, Washington in West Sussex.
Veolia Environmental Services submitted
planning application to West Sussex County
Council for the proposed landfill site.
It is West Sussex County Council’s responsibility
to decide, through the planning application
process, whether the landfill is required
and whether the site location is appropriate.
The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee
and advises planning authorities on the
potential environmental impact of these
type of proposals to ensure that issues
such as pollution, groundwater protection
and flood risk have been satisfactorily
addressed.
Richard Hammond, Environment Manager for
the Environment Agency, said:
“We take our role in the planning process
extremely seriously to ensure that the environment
is always considered and protected. We have
looked at Veolia’s application very carefully
and looked at the environmental impact of
the proposed landfill site at Rock Common,
Washington. We are objecting to the current
proposal because the site lies on a major
aquifer and we feel it would pose a significant
risk to groundwater quality.”
In addition to planning permission, Veolia
Environmental Services would also need a
Pollution, Prevention and Control (PPC)
Permit from the Environment Agency before
it could operate. Through this process,
the Environment Agency ensures that if a
new landfill is to be developed, it is designed
and operated to meet strict controls. A
permit contains conditions on how the site
can be operated to ensure that the disposal
of waste does not result in harm to human
health or the environment. The Environment
Agency has not yet received an application
from Veolia for a PPC permit for this site.
