Waste management fraud is a big deal. The Environment Agency has reported a significant increase in the scale and complexity of fraud within the waste export sector over the past three years.

Packaging Export Recycling Notes provide waste exporters with proof that they have fulfilled their legal recycling obligations. But there is nothing to stop dishonest employees from manipulating the system by creating fraudulent documents, which undermines legitimate businesses. The result of this is that illegal waste ends up exported from the UK and dumped in locations abroad, causing environmental harm.

These dishonest employees are falsely asserting that they have exported packaging waste that either does not exist, was not sourced from the UK, or has already been claimed, leading to an estimated £1 billion in waste crime costs to the UK economy annually.

Jon Ashcroft, producer responsibility regulatory services operations manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Waste crime has an extremely harmful impact on our environment and the Environment Agency is determined to crack down on it, working with law enforcement agencies to disrupt organised crime, arrest suspects and secure convictions.  

“Our investigations target the criminals committing fraud as well as those involved in the facilitation of offending. If you are involved, the likelihood is that our law enforcement partners will be knocking on your door soon.” – quoted in an article published by let’s recycle.

An Example Of Waste Management Fraud

Three men have been convicted following a major investigation led by the Environment Agency into large-scale illegal deposits of waste at 14 sites across the country. The investigation, named Operation Cesium, involved 17 sites across Liverpool, Lancashire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Shropshire, Yorkshire and Humberside. Organised criminal gang members approached waste facilities and offered to dispose of baled waste at reduced costs. The Environment Agency intelligence revealed they later abandoned the waste.

You can read more about the case here. But one big takeaway from the Environment Agency is that prevention and disruption are integral in the fight against organised crime and fraud.

It’s Time To Call In The Experts

To be sure that you have successfully detected, disrupted and prevented instances of fraud, you need to take initiative. Most people’s instinct on discovering (or suspecting) dishonest employees is to call the police. But it is almost always the case that calling in specialist investigatory support will guarantee you the timeliest and cost-effective resolution.

We have extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of fraud, scams and dishonest employees. Here’s a recent theft case we dealt with to show the importance of keeping your security measures up to date. For more information on how to deal with waste management fraud, please contact us.