International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

52.11 Evasion and Enforcement
52.11.1 Illegal Dumping Sites, Fly tipping and Waste Stream Transfer
In the Ecotec report on EU taxes and charges it was mentioned that there were
substantial numbers of illegal landfills or dumping sites in pre-tax France. Once the
tax was introduced these sites could still be taxed, but there seemed to be a
reluctance to prosecute and have the sites shut down; the reason for this is
unclear. 992
In England, Local Authorities (LAs) bear the costs of clearing up waste that is flytipped
on public land. 993 Some claim to have experienced increases in fly-tipping.
However, it is also suggested that this could be due to a greater awareness of the
problem post-tax, and that there was a poor baseline, because local authorities
previously defined fly-tipping in different ways.
Moreover, in Germany the introduction of the landfill ban on untreated wastes has
stimulated the illegal dumping of untreated waste and waste to unlicensed sites such
as quarries (see Annex 53.0).
Eunomia’s household waste prevention report states that there was some concern
that waste which was previously in the commercial and industrial stream might enter
the household stream through being taken to civic amenity sites. 994 The effect is that
municipal waste almost certainly increased as a result of the tax. This resulted in the
tightening up of procedures at HWRCs to stop the switch of C&I wastes into the
municipal stream. For example, the drivers of any vans now entering HWRCs in
England have to produce a proof of address, copy of hire certificate, and demonstrate
to the site operators what is in the vehicle on entrance.
52.11.2 Illegal Administration Fees
Ecotec also reports that the trade body SNADE tried to use its member’s dominant
position in the market to implement an administration fee to the costs of disposal.
This resulted in a substantially hike in the tax in 1993. This activity was illegal and
brought to the competition court whereby the group was fined on the grounds of free
market competition and abuse of dominant position. This was discovered to be a
sensitive issue and stakeholders are now reluctant to discuss the tax, however, no
repeat incidents have been reported.
992 ECOTEC (2001) Study on the Economic and Environmental Implications of the use of Env. Taxes &
Charges in the EU.
993 Eunomia et al (2007) Household Waste Prevention Policy Side Research Programme, Final Report
for Defra.
994 Eunomia et al (2007) Household Waste Prevention Policy Side Research Programme, Final Report
for Defra
789
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes