Veolia has launched a rapid waste clearance service to support local authorities and private landowners affected by illegal waste dumps.
Approximately 38 million tonnes of waste are illegally dumped across the UK each year - enough to fill Wembley Stadium 35 times, according to the House of Lords' Environment and Climate Change Committee. Local authorities are facing costs of up to 150 million every year to combat rising waste dumps and the UK currently has at least 8,000 illegal waste sites containing roughly 13 million tonnes of rubbish.
Veolia's rapid waste clearance service gives peace of mind immediately and protects our communities and environment from the long-term effects of mishandled waste.
The financial, health and environmental risks are significant because this illegal waste may contain hazardous materials and persistent organic pollutants, which can seep into the soil or waterways and require specialist treatment.
Veolia's national recycling infrastructure supports all elements of the waste clearance process in-house and delivers security, compliance and transparency for the landowner.
John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer, Veolia UK Industrial, Water and Energy, said: "Veolia is the only company capable of providing this comprehensive service that offers a one stop shop for businesses, local authorities and landowners facing the consequences of the rising waste crime crisis.
"Veolia's rapid waste clearance service gives peace of mind immediately and protects our communities and environment from the long-term effects of mishandled waste. Our leading hazardous waste expertise, which forms part of Veolia's GreenUp strategy, sets us apart in being able to treat any and all wastes found and ensure they are recycled or disposed of in a secure and sustainable way."
Veolia's rapid waste clearance service will provide customers with an initial action plan within 24 hours of enquiry. A full site assessment will then be completed, including immediate risk reviews and waste testing to provide clear recommendations on the next steps. Once agreed, Veolia will coordinate the safe removal, transport and disposal of waste using its national fleet of vehicles and treatment facilities, and provide clear, auditable records. To ensure long term site health, grounds testing teams will be available to assess the site and identify any contamination which Veolia's land remediation can resolve.
In order to combat the rise in waste crime in the UK, complementary funding and enforcement policies are needed on top of rapid waste clearance services. Indeed, most, if not all, of the waste industry has been calling for increased resources and funding for the Environment Agency's enforcement in this area.
Veolia believes any increases in funding provided to the Environmental Agency should come with specific targets and performance indicators to ensure the public are seeing value for money. The penalties, both financial and custodial, should also be increased to ensure that the deterrent against illegal dumping is stronger.
