Badge idea to combat fly-tippers

Fly-tipping is a widespread problem, the Environment Agency says

Reputable refuse disposal firms should be issued with badges so that people can distinguish them from illegal fly-tippers, MPs have heard.

Environment Agency boss Paul Leinster said there could be a scheme similar to Corgi-registering for gas-fitters.

"Big, bad and nasty" criminals, posing as proper disposal firms, were too often dumping rubbish illegally, he told the environment select committee.

The level of fines had risen but was "still too low", Mr Leinster added.

Environmental damage

He told the MPs that illegal rubbish dumping scams were sometimes run on an international basis.

Criminals undercut their legitimate rivals, with people using their services often unaware of the environmental damage being done.

Mr Leinster said: "We need a system where using a registered carrier is like using a Corgi-registered gas-fitter."

He added that detection of illegal operators had improved and that more people were being convicted.

One man had been extradited from Ireland and another had been sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Publicity

Mr Leinster said: "We are looking at bringing in some additional forensic accountants... so that we are able to go after people using the Proceeds of Crime Act [which allows assets of criminals to be seized].

"We would like to see waste carriers carrying a badge or licence so that we would know that they are a registered carrier.

"That would allow us to publicise the whole approach."

He added: "We are looking at an automated system for phoning up anyone purporting to be registered carriers in the Yellow Pages...

"We could then target action against those who say they do not wish to be registered with us."

During the same question session, Steve Lee, chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, told MPs that there needed to be more testing of charges levied according to the amount of rubbish people leave in their bins.

Such schemes could help reduce household waste, he said, adding: "Unless we pilot these schemes we are just guessing what impact they will have."

Corgi is the national watchdog for gas safety in the UK, which aims to protect consumers from "cowboy" operators.