Waste management pollution on the rise

The number of waste management pollution incidents increased markedly in the UK in 2012, according to a new study from the Environment Agency.

The organisation's new Pollution Incidents Report shows that there were increases across most of the sub-sectors of the industry last year, despite an overall drop in instances of pollution across all UK industries in 2012.

As well as being the industry that causes the most pollution incidents, waste management also causes some of the most serious incidents, ranging from major fires and chemical releases to shipping disasters, farm slurry spills, odour from waste sites and damaged sewer systems.

A particularly problematic issue is the release of odours from composting organic waste, despite an increase in the treatment of organics through anaerobic digestion, composting and biofuels.

This has resulted in less waste going to landfill and more energy being recovered, but the EA report notes that there has been a "disproportionate" number of incidents at these sites, which is "causing nuisance to local communities and is damaging business reputation".

The EA figures show that for every 100 waste permits issued for anaerobic digestion, there are 8.8 pollution incidents, which is the highest of any waste technology and far higher than the second highest technology, which is composting at 2.8 per 100.

Another key observation was a decline in the amount of waste plastics, paper and other recyclables exported to China from England - something the Environment Agency said it is monitoring in a bid to ensure that the treatment and recovery of these waste streams continues to take place in an "environmentally sound manner".

"We will continue to work with business, the government and communities to tackle serious pollution and irresponsible business practice," the agency said.

"We do not tolerate persistent pollution incidents and we take action to ensure that business makes improvements to its environmental management. This report provides the environmental performance data we are using to inform our engagement."

According to the report, the number of serious and significant pollution incidents taking place has reduced from 1,292 to 617 since 2000, but the downward trend is now levelling off, and more action is needed to foster a decrease.