Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 43
43
The Environment Agency in England should be undertaking stronger enforcement activity and should be actively...
Conclusion
The Environment Agency in England should be undertaking stronger enforcement activity and should be actively collecting data and information to estimate the actual quantities of E-waste being exported illegally. (Paragraph 161) 66 Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Environment Agency takes an intelligence-based approach to its compliance and enforcement work so it can target resources most effectively at improving compliance and targeting illegal activity. The Environment Agency collects data and intelligence and uses it to direct its activities according to risk as well as a range of other factors. Recent legislation changes, as a result of the adoption of Basel changes in international waste management, will result in more plastics from e-waste being notified. This will mean the Environment Agency will have more data collected on plastic exports, and fewer high- risk exports of mixed e-waste. It has communicated all these recent changes to business and will be following up with appropriate compliance monitoring. Robust enforcement action will be taken where good intelligence is gathered to pursue sanctions. A number of industry-led initiatives have sought to provide estimates of illegal exports of e-waste, and the Environment Agency has provided data to support those reports. It will continue to gather evidence of mis-descriptions of waste and seek to ensure that up- stream movements of materials are appropriately described and managed.