Environmental fines on the rise
Figures from the Environment Agency show that in 2008 the
average fine for company prosecutions rose to over £12,000 per
offence; this is almost a 20% increase in the previous year's
average fine.
In 2008, the Environment Agency took 250 companies to court,
with more than £3m being awarded in total fines. The primary reason
for fines is 'illegal waste activity' (31%), followed by 'water
pollution' incidents (24%), 'producer responsibility' failures
(23%) and 'other' offences such as breaching permit conditions
(22%).
We recently reported that the first prosecution had been taken
under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations,
showing that the Environment Agency is getting tougher with
businesses that fail to comply despite the challenging economic
circumstances.