EA’s Latest Findings Highlight Urgent Need for Better Waste Management

The UK waste sector manages around 191 million tonnes of material each year and is central to the country’s economy and essential services. And while we’re proud to play our part, new data makes it clear that environmental performance across the industry still has significant room for improvement.

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Second Chief Regulator Report (November 2025) identifies the waste sector as the largest source of serious pollution incidents in England during 2024, accounting for 23% of all major events.

A sector under scrutiny

The EA highlights waste, agriculture and water as “sectors of concern”, driven largely by poorly managed sites and rising waste crime. Waste operations recorded their highest number of serious pollution events since 2013, with 146 serious incidents logged in 2024 – a 57% increase on the previous year.

Landfills and deposit-for-recovery sites saw the sharpest rise, with incidents more than tripling to 76, most commonly linked to odour complaints. Waste treatment facilities, including sorting, recycling, composting and materials recovery, were responsible for a further 58 serious incidents.

Stronger enforcement is on the way

These rises occurred despite 82% of EA inspections in 2024 focusing on waste activity. The report highlights the EA’s plans to further increase inspections – up to 10,000 by March 2026 – supported by new technology, additional enforcement capability and a more data-driven approach. The imminent rollout of Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking is also key, with rollout in April becoming mandatory from October 2026.

“We fully support the Environment Agency’s determination to raise standards across the waste sector. Effective, consistent regulation is essential to reducing environmental harm,” says Neil Jeremiah, Managing Director, Endurance. “At Endurance, we’re committed to leading by example – investing in cleaner, more efficient fleet technology and continually improving the way we operate.”

Strengthening compliance through smarter fleet support

With regulations tightening, operators need partners who can help them stay compliant and operationally agile. Endurance provides flexible, reliable fleet services that support organisations through shifting capacity and regulatory change.

To discuss how Endurance can support your team, contact our team on 01291 440 750 or via sales@endurancevs.com

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