Overview

• Councils in England are now encouraged to seize and crush vehicles used in fly-tipping, with a government review aimed at expanding the use of these powers.
• Proposed legislation includes up to five-year prison sentences for rogue waste operators and mandatory licensing for those handling waste.
• Advanced technology, including drones and mobile CCTV cameras, will be deployed to identify and track vehicles involved in illegal dumping.
• The Environment Agency will receive additional resources to enforce stricter industry regulations, including identity and criminal record checks for waste operators.
• Despite the crackdown, councils must fund enforcement using a recent 7% budget increase, as no new dedicated funding has been allocated.