The Environment Agency will receive additional funding for tackling waste crime under the 2015 Budget presented to Parliament by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Wednesday. However, the £4.2m (€5.8m) are to be a one-time allocation. The funding follows on last year's government commitment of £5m to the Agency's efforts to combat illegal waste activity, including unauthorised dumping, processing and exporting.
The British Environmental Services Association (ESA) welcomed the announcement, but pointed out the need for a "long-term commitment to fund this important work". According to the industry body, clean-up costs and lost tax revenue related to waste crime cost the UK economy nearly £600m each year.
