To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any measures in place to monitor and prevent illegal dumping or fly-tipping following the festive period.

I recognise the significant negative impact that illegal dumping and fly-tipping can have on the natural environment and the problems it can cause.

My Department works closely with local councils to support effective waste management across Northern Ireland. Responsibilities for illegal waste dumping and fly-tipping are split between my Department and Councils.

NIEA’s Environmental Crime Unit (ECU) focuses its resources on those cases which present the most significant risk to the environment and public health and utilises powers contained within the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to pursue prosecutions. Such prosecutions 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’.

On 2 January 2023 my Department commenced provisions of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 affording Northern Ireland District Councils similar enforcement powers to those given to NIEA under the 1997 Act.

ECU continues to work in close partnership with local councils to address fly tipping of waste across NI through a working protocol which has been agreed with the majority of councils.

In response to your concerns regarding illegal dumping and fly-tipping after the festive period, my Department will continue to process reports and investigate allegations of waste-related offences throughout the entire year, including during and following the festive season. The procedures available for reporting waste crime remain unchanged for members of the public and other relevant organisations or agencies, both before and after the festive period.