|
|
<p>Enforcement Undertakings (EUs) are a civil sanction and constitute a voluntary offer made by offenders, containing actions to address the cause and effect of their offending. Where an EU is accepted it becomes a legally binding agreement. The Environment Agency is increasingly using EUs for suitable cases to restore or enhance the environment, improve practices of the offending business and ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Over the past 3 calendar years for waste-related offences the Environment Agency has accepted:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>2016 30 EUs accepted, contributing £858,195.69 towards environmental projects;</p></li><li><p>2017 32 EUs accepted, contributing £1,027,423.53 towards environmental projects; and</p></li><li><p>2018 (to date) 27 EUs accepted, contributing £597,022.43 to environmental projects.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p>EUs are one type of enforcement measure the Environment Agency considers and it will only do so for cases where prosecution is not appropriate using its published Enforcement and Sanctions Policy to guide its approach. However prosecutions will still be taken, particularly in the most serious cases.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency have undertaken the following waste prosecutions in the last 3 years:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>2016 152 waste prosecutions, of which 129 were successful</p></li><li><p>2017 129 waste prosecutions, of which 115 were successful</p></li><li><p>2018 (to date) 79 waste prosecutions, of which 73 were successful</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>I attach details of each case for each time period where the fines imposed exceeded £10,000.</p> |