The ten-week consultation is open to those in the waste, water and farming sectors. Responses can be submitted until midnight on 20 January 2025.
The Environment Agency has made four key proposals, set to come into force in April 2025:
- A waste levy which will enable it to increase waste enforcement activity by around 30%.
- New and updated hourly rates to ensure the Environment Agency can continue to recover the costs of regulatory activities.
- A waste fee for intervention to recover the cost of regulation where operators lack authorisation.
- Registration and compliance charges for waste exemptions. For farmers, the Environment Agency is proposing a reduced compliance charge for a set of 15 common on-farm waste exemptions.
The proposals are designed to help the Environment Agency fund its operations to target waste criminals. It noted that waste crime costs England’s economy £1 billion in damages yearly.
Steve Molyneux, deputy director of waste and resources regulation at the EA, said: “It’s our job to be fair and transparent with the businesses we regulate for the work we do.
“Waste exemption abuse across industry sectors, increasing costs of regulation and illegal waste activity, is making it harder to meet the cost of these challenges.
“Our proposals will see more investment in our services, which is crucial in protecting legitimate businesses, tackling waste crime and reducing environmental damage. We encourage interested parties to respond to help shape the future of their industry.”
In August this year, the Environment Agency issued a warning to landowners to be vigilant and secure their premises as waste crime continues to rise.
In 2023, a survey by the agency found that 85% of the landowners and farmers who took part reported being affected by small-scale fly-tipping and 20% by large-scale fly tipping.
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