{"id":148773,"date":"2025-02-20T10:23:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T10:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=148773"},"modified":"2025-02-20T10:23:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T10:23:54","slug":"mpa-slams-environmental-agencys-new-waste-crime-levy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/building-control-news\/mpa-slams-environmental-agencys-new-waste-crime-levy\/148773\/","title":{"rendered":"MPA slams Environmental Agency\u2019s new waste crime levy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The levy is set to come into force in April, and came about following an Environmental Agency (EA) consultation which ran until January<\/h2>\n

The Mineral Products Association<\/a> (MPA) has called the EA\u2019s new waste crime levy \u201cillogical and unjust.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new regulation will bring in a 10% levy on permit fees for compliant firms regulated by the EA, in an effort to tackle \u2018rogue operators.\u2019<\/p>\n

The MPA says a waste crime levy is punishing the innocent<\/h3>\n

Many UK mineral operators as part of the MPA point towards their high standards when it comes to the environment, including recycling waste to use as aggregate, and maintaining a circular economy, and even restoring former quarry sites.<\/p>\n

MPA executive director, Mark Russell, said: \u201cThis decision is illogical and unjust. It flies in the face of the government\u2019s drive to kickstart economic growth, and it will discourage investment in the circular economy. Why should businesses that operate to high environmental standards \u2014 yet are facing deteriorating quality of service from the regulator \u2014 pay even more to fund unrelated crime-fighting?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe strongly back initiatives to tackle waste crime and address the environmental harm it causes. However, this is yet another example of the burden being put on reputable operators, despite the Chancellor calling on businesses to drive growth and \u2018tear down regulatory barriers\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegulators often view increasing fees as the solution to their financial problems, when from our perspective, such charges rarely deliver the desired improvements. But the waste crime levy takes things to a disturbing new level. Compliant businesses should not be treated as a \u2018cash cow\u2019 to raise additional income to support other activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MPA has spoken out about other legislation<\/h3>\n

Last month, the MPA spoke out against the rise in planning application fees<\/a>, stating that the rise will not have the desired outcome of increasing the budget for local authorities.<\/p>\n

They offered an alternative that they believe will achieve better results in ring-fencing the funds to boost investment and provide funds for improving planning departments.<\/p>\n

Planning application fees are due to rise in April, and will rise as per the following:<\/p>\n