Recommendation 19

The Environment Agency also has some responsibilities for tackling waste crime. Waste crime refers to, for example, sites which operate without a permit, breaches of permit conditions, fly tipping, and failure to pay landfill tax.48 In 2022, the NAO estimated the cost to the English economy from waste crime to be more than £900 million per year. Fly-tipping and illegal waste sites, the costliest types of waste crime, are increasing.49 In its 25-Year Environment Plan, published in 2018, government set the ambition to eliminate waste crime and illegal waste sites within 25 years.50 44 C&AG’s Report, para 2.5 45 C&AG’s Report, figure 4 46 Q 11 47 Q 10 48 C&AG’s Report, Investigation into government’s actions to combat waste crime in England, HC 1149, 27 April 2022, para 3 49 C&AG’s Report, Investigation into government’s actions to combat waste crime in England, HC 1149, 27 April 2022, para 1 50 C&AG’s Report, Investigation into government’s actions to combat waste crime in England, HC 1149, 27 April 2022, para 4 15