Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
The Agency estimates that around 14 million tonnes of waste are legitimately exported each year.
Recommendation
The Agency estimates that around 14 million tonnes of waste are legitimately exported each year. The Agency told us that tackling illegal export of waste is “one of our top priorities” and “we are active in trying to stop it”.81 It accepts this will require the 71 Qq 55–56, 65–67 72 Qq 43, 45; C&AG’s Report, Figure 18 73 Qq 45, 46 74 Qq 52–54 75 Qq 55–58 76 Qq 60–61 77 Qq 59, 62 78 Qq 62–63 79 GWC0007 (SUEZ) 80 Q 47 81 Q 81 Government actions to combat waste crime 17 Agency to work more over the next few years with the recipient countries of illegal waste exports than it has previously. The Agency believes that most illegally exported waste is going to non-OECD countries, which are less able to process the waste and more damaged by getting it.82 In future the Agency plans to use the tonnage of waste that is not going to illegal export, because of Agency interventions, as a performance metric.83
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and the Environment Agency provided a written response to the committee on November 30th. HMRC is also collaborating with the agency to produce an estimate of the scale of illegal exports and the potential losses to the exchequer that considers all available data whilst identifying data gaps.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6. PAC conclusion: We are concerned that the Agency is not doing enough to prevent the illegal export of waste. 6. PAC recommendation: The Agency should write to us within six weeks setting out what actions would be required to enable it to understand the true scale of illegal waste exports and what further action it might take to prevent them. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 6.2 A response has been provided to the Committee by Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, sent to the committee on the 30th of November. 6.3 HMRC is also collaborating with the agency to produce an estimate of the scale of illegal exports and the potential losses to the exchequer that considers all available data whilst identifying data gaps.