Annual reports on the Environment Agency’s regulation work. The reports provide information and statistics about the:

• emissions to air from the businesses we regulate
• number of serious pollution incidents and sectors responsible
• compliance of businesses with their environmental permits
• reduction in costs for businesses we regulate
• enforcement action we take when businesses do not comply

The Environment Agency applies the regulatory framework set by government. We work with businesses to make sure they operate in a way that avoids harming people or the environment, without imposing unnecessary administrative burdens on them.

See the 2017 datasets that support the 2017 report.

See the 2016 datasets that support the 2016 report.

See the 2015 datasets that support the 2015 report.

See the 2014 datasets that support the 2014 report.

See the 2013 datasets that support the 2013 report.

These 14 sector strategy reports give an overview of each sector’s performance and annual emissions. They also list the Environment Agency’s top environmental objectives for each sector to 2020.

See the 2016 datasets that support these strategies.

See the 2015 sector strategies.

There are reports for 2013 to 2015. Waste industry data for 2016 is included in the 2016 Regulating for people, the environment and growth summary.

These annual reports show facts and statistics about the number of permits the Environment Agency issued to the waste industry. They report the amount of waste that was recycled, reused or sent to landfill. The reports also give details of environmental consequences including:

• numbers of serious pollution incidents relating to the waste industry
• the waste industry’s environmental performance
• facts about illegal waste

The way society manages waste has changed radically over the last 20 years. More waste is recycled and reused than ever before. This has brought significant environmental benefits, but the many new and innovative waste treatments now available may cause increased risk to the environment if not properly managed. The reports explain how the Environment Agency is adapting its regulatory approach to manage these risks.

See the 2015 datasets that support the 2015 report.

See the 2014 datasets that support the 2014 report.

See the 2013 datasets that support the 2013 report.

These reports are for 2013 to 2015. Pollution incidents data for 2016 is included in the 2016 Regulating for people, the environment and growth summary.

These annual reports show serious pollution incidents in England. They provide facts and statistics about:

• the number of serious pollution incidents
• impacts of pollution incidents and their sources
• sectors responsible
• action the Environment Agency takes to reduce pollution incidents
• enforcement action the Environment Agency takes when pollution incidents happen

Serious pollution incidents can harm people and the environment as well as damage businesses. To cause or allow pollution is against the law. The Environment Agency provides advice and guidance on pollution prevention and also takes enforcement action if a pollution incident happens.

See the 2015 datasets that support the 2015 report.

See the 2014 datasets that support the 2014 report.

See the 2013 datasets that support the 2013 report.

The Environment Agency has evaluated the impact of an additional £5 million in funding to tackle waste crime.

Rogue operators undercut legitimate business, evade landfill tax and have a negative impact on people and the environment. Waste crime costs an estimated £1 billion a year from unpaid taxes, lost revenue for legitimate businesses and the associated impacts on people and the environment.

This project was set up to tackle three priority outcome areas: reducing the risk from illegal waste sites, reducing the mis-description of waste, and reducing the illegal export of waste.

The impact evaluation findings show that the Environment Agency’s activities in tackling waste crime have a net positive effect on both people and the environment, but also offer good value for money to the taxpayer.