To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on actions taken to address the illegal dumping of waste.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Environmental Crime Unit (ECU) is focused on investigating and pursuing offenders involved in the illegal dumping of waste. The ECU focuses its resource on those cases which present the most significant risk to the environment and public health.

The ECU utilises powers contained within the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to pursue prosecutions which are often coupled with confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 aimed at depriving those convicted of the proceeds generated from their crimes whilst asserting the ‘Polluter Pays Principle’.

To address illegal dumping the ECU continues to adopt a multi-agency approach through operational cooperation with other government agencies. It remains an active member of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) and Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC).

These groups bring together law enforcement agencies, along with Government Departments, and other interested parties to combat illegal dumping of waste. By working together with partner agencies, the ECU takes a comprehensive approach to tackle illegal dumping by combining strategic enforcement through effective inter-agency collaboration.