News

The Environment Agency (EA), which enforces the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, is to review its priorities after receiving an increase in funding to focus on improving flood defences.

The government yesterday (21 February) announced an increased budget settlement for the EA of £796m in 2008/9, up £130m on 2007/8.

However, "new duties, challenges and inflationary pressures" meant the EA would have to "prioritise rigorously what we do to protect the environment".

One of its priorities will be to crack down on waste crime and stop illegal activities undermining the new waste and recycling markets created.

It said it would use intelligence and enforcement to "catch the big, bad and nasty criminals".

A spokesman said the EA would make further announcements before the end of March on how it would spend its budget.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) said yesterday it would review its activities following a 30% cut in funding.

It said, however, that £43.2m was still a "substantial sum" to deliver its "important and stretching" work programme.