WISH has released its revised waste fires guidance, the revised guidance was produced by the WISH waste fires working group, with the involvement of other interested parties. It is supported by bodies such as the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Representatives from the waste management and recycling industry have come together to form the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum.
Further information
Environment Agency warning for landowners
Criminals are increasingly renting land, particularly vacant warehouses, and then filling them with waste.
The waste is often hidden by baling it in plastic wrapping, and a warehouse can be filled with thousands of these bales in just a few days.
The criminals then vanish, leaving the landowner with the expensive cost of clearing the waste. In recent cases, landowners have had to spend between £200,000 and £2,000,000 to clear sites. It is also a serious fire hazard.
The Environment Agency has produced three waste crime videos targeted at three separate audiences. The videos aim to prevent and disrupt illegal activity in the ELV sector and fly-tipping.
