Two 47-year-old people have been arrested in Penzance in the British county of Cornwall in connection with a suspected packaging recycling fraud. The Environment Agency, together with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, announced that more than six million pounds were involved.
The arrests were made early Monday morning in co-operation with Devon and Cornwall Police. The suspects are suspected of unlawfully selling credits for allegedly recycled packaging waste under the UK's Packaging Producer Responsibility Regime. Reprocessors accredited by the Environment Agency are allowed to sell recycling credits under this scheme, which producers must purchase to fulfil their obligations to fund collection and recycling.
According to the authority, in this case credits worth more than six million pounds were allegedly sold for packaging that was supposedly recycled. However, it is suspected that a significant proportion of these recycling activities never took place and that the reported quantities were artificially inflated. Money laundering is also being investigated. After questioning, the two suspects were initially released on conditional release while the investigation continues.
Authorities speak of consistent action against waste crime
„This shocking case of packaging fraud has damaged legitimate businesses and deprived councils of funding for their recycling services. I welcome these arrests by the Environment Agency - they send a clear message that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against waste crime. This Government is cracking down on waste cowboys by providing additional resources to tackle waste crime and introducing stricter controls and tougher penalties for offences.„
Mary Creagh, British Circular Economy Minister
The Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations oblige manufacturers of packaging made from materials such as glass or plastic to bear the costs of collecting and disposing of their waste. To this end, companies must acquire proof of recycling from properly operating disposal companies. Due to their monetary value, these certificates have increasingly become the target of criminal activities in recent years, according to the authorities. Illegal practices deprive the system of funds intended for the expansion of the British recycling infrastructure.
The Environment Agency's Economic Crime Unit carries out targeted financial investigations in the waste sector to combat money laundering and fraud. According to the agency, 18 arrests have been made in connection with waste crime in the past two months alone.
Source(s): Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
