- New permit system to replace outdated paper-based registration
- Will require identity, criminal record and competence checks
- Up to five years in prison for waste criminals who misdescribe or dump waste illegally
New reforms are set to tighten the net on waste criminals with tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and advanced background checks to help put rogue operators out of business.
As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, underpinned by the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, laws being laid this week will require waste handlers to prove they are qualified to transport waste.
The current registration system is broken and outdated, relying on a basic registration process with limited identity and background checks. This has been exploited by rogue operators with a poor track record of dumping waste and leaving a huge clean-up bill.
The new and tougher permit-based system will be brought into force in 2027, and require waste handlers to undergo identity, criminal record and technical checks before receiving a permit. They will also need to display their permit number in advertising, including on their vans, making it easier for the public to report unlicensed operators.
For those mishandling waste, they will now face up to five years in prison. The move to permitting will also give the Environment Agency stronger powers to revoke permits and issue enforcement notices.
The government is doubling the budget for waste crime enforcement, with a clear focus on targeting the organised criminal gangs that have exploited the Conservative’s system for years.
By combining stronger digital checks with increased enforcement capacity, these reforms will drive criminal operators out of the sector and restore confidence that waste is being handled safely and legally.
Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, has long called for tough action on fly- tipping, which blights the city’s communities. This can be read about in further detail here.
Welcoming the action, Mr Morgan said:
“Portsmouth residents have had to put up with the eyesore of waste building up on our streets and public places for far too long. Illegal dumping blights our communities, harms our environment and costs everyone money.
“New Government reforms send a clear message that if you want to handle waste in Portsmouth, you have to prove you can do it properly”.
Waste Minister Mary Creagh said:
“Waste criminals have abused the system for too long, blighting our countryside and cities alike.
“Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we’re introducing rigorous background checks for waste traders, shutting down corrupt operators and kicking them out of the industry for good.
“This is just one measure we’re introducing to stamp out waste crime, with law breakers now facing up to five years behind bars thanks to tougher penalties.”
