In their recent corporate scorecard 2021 to 2022, the Environment Agency reported that the number of high-risk illegal waste sites continued to fall in quarter one with numbers remaining below their ceiling target.
The Environment Agency stated:
“The number of high-risk illegal waste sites (IWS) continued to fall in quarter one and the numbers remain below our ceiling target. This quarter saw the lowest number of IWS added of any quarter, only 8 of them were high-risk sites. Overall, there were 26 fewer active IWS and 5 fewer high-risk IWS than the previous quarter.
However, we should continue to be cautious in how these numbers are interpreted. The combination of the effects of the pandemic and reduced resource means that the overall figures may suggest a more positive picture than our officers are facing.
There remains a backlog of unsubstantiated sites in some areas that will need to be worked through and when they are, the numbers of IWS are likely to rise. Until then our confidence in the numbers will remain reduced. With additional waste crime funding, we have recruited over 210 enforcement officers. This resource has been essential in stabilising the numbers of IWS over that period and managing other areas of waste crime.”
To read the full report visit www.gov.uk
Source www.gov.uk
