Environment Agency Consults on Waste Charges

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The Environment Agency has initiated a 10-week consultation to gather feedback from the waste, water, and farming sectors on proposed changes to waste charges. This consultation runs from 11 November 2024 to 20 January 2025, with the aim of introducing new regulatory charges and updating existing ones to recover the full costs of the Environment Agency’s services. The proposed changes are set to be implemented from April 2025.
Key Proposals
The consultation focuses on four main proposals:
Addressing Waste Crime
A primary goal of these proposals is to combat waste crime, which causes over £1 billion in damages annually and undermines legitimate businesses. The revenue generated from the charges is intended to support stronger enforcement, better customer support, improved digital systems, and clearer guidance.
Steve Molyneux, Deputy Director of Waste and Resources Regulation at the Environment Agency, emphasised the importance of these changes: "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".
The Burges Salmon team is monitoring the proposals outlined by the Environment Agency and has extensive experience advising on waste and resource management. Please contact Michael Barlow at [email protected] or Victoria Barnes at [email protected] of the Environment team if you would like to understand the potential implications of the proposals for your business or activities.
“The needs of the legitimate sector have also grown in recent years, making it necessary to review the service charges to ensure the Environment Agency can continue to deliver a robust and efficient regulatory service.”