Landowners in Gedling borough are being targeting by organised criminals, who plan to illegally storing baled waste on their land.
The gangs are hoping to dupe unsuspecting landowners by asking to store the waste or by claiming they will use the site for other means, such as vehicle storage, in return for cash but then fill the site with waste and don’t return.
The removal of this waste could then end up costing the local landowners and commercial letting agents hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, say the Environment Agency.
These enormous costs relate to the burden of removing illegal waste dumped on open land and in rented commercial premises. The costs could be even higher if land is left contaminated or insurance premiums rise as a result.
Environment Agency Team Leader, Peter Haslock, said: “An increasing number of offences are being committed by organised waste criminals acting as tenants who rent commercial property and land for the illegal disposal of waste such as baled waste which can have household and commercial waste such as plastics, carpet and mattresses in them.
“This illegal waste activity is a “scam” being carried out by organised criminals with no permits and safety practices in place and with no intention of correctly disposing of the waste. When discovered, landlords/letting agents could face criminal prosecution, fines and even prison sentences. In addition, the cost of clearing the waste and remediating the site, if it has been contaminated, could become the landlord’s responsibility. These costs can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
In a bid to stop waste criminals in their tracks, the Environment Agency is appealing to the borough’s property and land owners, commercial property agents, trade associations and local authorities to be on their guard.
Peter added: “We’re asking property and land owners to be vigilant and better protect themselves.
“We’re also asking that businesses, organisations and individuals manage their waste responsibly to prevent it from getting into criminal hands in the first place.”
The Environment Agency has today written to commercial property agents, trade associations and local authorities across the East Midlands with the following advice for landlords and landowners.
- Carry out rigorous checks on prospective new tenants. Land and property owners have a responsibility to ensure anyone leasing their land/premises complies with regulations, so it is essential that you establish how and for what they are going to use the land/property.
- Check any empty land and property regularly and make sure it is secure.
- It is illegal to store waste on your land without the required permits. You may be committing an offence by allowing waste to be stored on your land or property without the relevant permissions and you could be liable to prosecution and the cost of removing the waste.
- Landlords should check before signing a contract that the contract complies with regulations. You can view whether a potential tenant holds the correct permit to carry out waste operations athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information
- The offer of payment to temporarily store waste is a scam, the waste will likely never be collected.
- Be vigilant and report any unusual behaviour. If you are suspicious of prospective tenants please contact us for more information and advice.
If you are approached to store baled waste, even on a short term basis, refuse the material and call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Anyone who sees waste crime taking place is advised not to approach as these people can be dangerous. Report it by calling the Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
