Regulating the waste industry during the coronavirus pandemic

Press release

The Environment Agency continues to respond to reports of illegal waste sites, even during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A bulldozer moving waste in front of a pile of soil and an articulated lorry full of waste — The illegal waste site in the Bulkington area of North Warwickshire

On Wednesday 3 June the Environment Agency’s West Midlands illegal waste site team joined forces with the Warwickshire Police Rural Crime team to attend an illegal waste site in the Bulkington area of North Warwickshire.

They found the land was being filled with general waste materials and topped off with soil. The land was not permitted to be receiving waste materials of any kind.

At the time of their attendance, officers witnessed two articulated lorries at the site, which were in the process of being unloaded. The officers instructed the drivers to refill the lorries with the waste they had deposited and move off the site. An excavator that was on hire was also repatriated to its owner.

During the visit, police officers also identified and seized a previously stolen piece of plant machinery. An investigation into the illegal waste activity is now under way.

A spokesperson for the illegal waste sites team, said:

There may be a global pandemic affecting the UK but that doesn’t give waste criminals an excuse. We remain committed to reducing waste crime and reducing the opportunities for those operating illegally to do so.

Land and property owners need to be extra vigilant during this pandemic to avoid being a victim of waste crime. Waste criminals are targeting land and property, they may offer cash to store waste promising to come back and remove it but never do, or, they may dump the waste without the owner’s knowledge.

We urge owners to check empty land and property regularly and make sure they are secure as any waste stored on their property without the relevant permissions could leave the landowner liable to prosecution and costs to remove the waste.

Everyone has a part to play to help solve the waste crime problem and make sure waste is managed responsibly. If you pass your waste to someone else to take away for you, you must first check they are registered with the Environment Agency so it doesn’t end up in the hands of operators who break the law.

Businesses and householders should carry out checks to ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste. You can check if a waste carrier is genuine by visiting the Environment Agency’s public register.

Anyone who suspects a company is operating illegally can call the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Notes to editors

An illegal waste site is any site routinely operating without a permit or outside of its permit limits. They pose a risk of harm to the health of people and the environment.
Waste site owners should make sure their site is legal and check they have the right permit for their activities.
You must register with the Environment Agency to legally operate as a waste carrier, broker or dealer.
More information on the Environment Agency’s regulatory approach.
To support business to meet the challenge of operating during the pandemic, the Environment Agency has put in place a number of regulatory position statements, which help businesses minimise risks to the environment and human health where, for reasons beyond their control, compliance with certain regulatory requirements may not be possible due to coronavirus.

Published 11 June 2020
Last updated 11 June 2020 + show all updates

11 June 2020
First published.

Domestic Abuse Bill 2020: letter from ministers to Jess Phillips MP

Correspondence from Victoria Atkins MP and Alex Chalk MP, to Jess Phillips MP following the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill 2020.

The letter thanks members for their contributions and sets out the government’s position on some of the issues raised ahead of committee stage.

Environmental business initiative receives £120,000 funding boost

Business support organisation The Water Hub has received a total of £120,000 funding that will help it continue to back innovative solutions to local environmental challenges.

The funding has come from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and partners, including the Environment Agency, Durham County Council, Durham University, and Northumbrian Water Ltd; allowing the initiative to establish a business development plan for how it may continue to offer support for research and innovation in the region.

By bringing together the water industry and local businesses on environmental projects, The Water Hub has provided direct support to 54 organisations through collaborations, research development, and business support.

It is estimated that this work has resulted in a boost of more than £1.7 million for the local economy.

George Gerring of The Water Hub and Senior Operations Officer for the Environment Agency, said:

We are so excited to be entering phase 2 of our vision, under the funding and development guidance of the Environment Agency, to help broker and initiate key relationships between the environmental and business sectors.

We are in a healthy position to scale and grow The Water Hub into establishing the organisation as a national and international asset. We have proven that the projects we help instigate produce a direct return on investment, which should be our magnet towards attracting future investment to the region.

This is a global calling card to show investors that the North East of England is open for business, and to demonstrate what the region has to offer as a vibrant and ambitious place to develop new water and environmentally centred products.

In these uncertain times during the global pandemic we are also wanting to show our support towards SMEs and provide a positive platform for the region to build upon.

Richard Baker, Strategy and Policy Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

The Water Hub has been an excellent initiative to draw together partners, businesses and communities in the drive to develop solutions to key water and environmental challenges and has created an excellent collaborative model which has the potential to position the North East as a leading region for this work.

It’s a pleasure to be a partner to the Environment Agency, water sector and universities involved and look forward to the next stage of our work together.

As one of a group of natural assets, water is identified in the Strategic Economic Plan and Local Industrial Strategy as an important economic opportunity for our region, not least as the world seeks responses to Climate Change. We’re looking forward to continuing this partnership as this crucial work continues.

During a recent survey of businesses supported by The Water Hub, one SME, Jack Shuttleworth, Project Manager for SEL Environmental Ltd, said:

The Water Hub has helped us to secure approximately £200,000 of new business, however the potential value is huge as collaborating with The Water Hub has allowed us to get in front of huge businesses.

For further information about The Water Hub please visit www.thewaterhub.org.uk and follow them on Twitter @hub_water

Civil news: revised fees for immigration and asylum work

News story

New fees were introduced for immigration and asylum work on 8 June 2020 which will apply for the next 12 months.

Man sitting at table and talking to two clients

Revised immigration and asylum work fees were introduced on 8 June for controlled legal representation (CLR) work under the 2018 civil contract.

The new fee is known as a ‘stage 2c fee’. It replaces the previous stage 2a and stage 2b fee when appeals are made using HM Courts and Tribunal Service online process. This is where appeal skeleton arguments (ASA) or written submissions have been needed.

The revised fees will last for one year and are as follows:

We are making changes in the digital billing service known as Contracted Work and Administration (CWA) to enable you to claim for the 2c fee.

The updated version of the immigration and asylum specification for the 2018 civil contract is now available on GOV.UK.

Further information

Standard Civil contract 2018 – for updated version of immigration and asylum specification

Regulatory amendments – for confirmation of stage 2c fee rates

Published 11 June 2020

UK statement on the death of President Nkurunziza of Burundi

Press release

British Ambassador to Burundi expresses her condolences to the Republic of Burundi and its people

Following the death of President Nkurunziza of Burundi on Monday 8 June, British Ambassador Jo Lomas said:

“I would like to offer my condolences to the Republic of Burundi and its people at this time. We hope that following the recent elections, Burundi sees a peaceful transition and forges a path towards stability, democracy and prosperity.”

Published 11 June 2020