By Paul Empson, General Manager, Bakers Basco
The recent arrest linked to alleged multi-million pound packaging fraud is a stark reminder that waste crime is evolving and that its consequences reach far beyond the individuals directly involved.
While this particular case centres on the Packaging Producer Responsibility (PPR) regime, the underlying issue is one we see time and again across the wider waste ecosystem: criminal activity distorting a system that relies on trust, transparency and compliance.
At its core, this isn’t a victimless crime. When fraudulent credits are generated for recycling activity that never took place, it removes vital funding from the system. That shortfall doesn’t simply disappear, it creates additional pressure on legitimate producers and businesses who are already meeting their obligations and doing the right thing. Ultimately, they are the ones who end up paying more.
From a UK Bakers perspective we see a different but related side of waste crime – the theft and misuse of reusable bakery equipment. While the mechanics may differ, the impact is strikingly similar. Criminal activity removes assets and value from the supply chain, disrupts operations and drives up costs for compliant businesses.
Whether it’s fraudulent PRNs or physical asset misuse, the outcome is the same: a system that becomes harder and more expensive to operate fairly.
This is why enforcement action like this matters. It sends a clear signal that waste crime, in all its forms, is being taken seriously. The Environment Agency’s continued focus on intelligence-led enforcement, alongside its broader plans to strengthen oversight, is a positive step forward. But enforcement alone is not enough.
If the UK is to deliver on its environmental ambitions, including the successful rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), there must be confidence that the system is robust, transparent and protected from exploitation. That means continued investment in enforcement, better data sharing across the sector, and a willingness to call out and tackle criminal behaviour wherever it appears.
Because ultimately, every pound lost to fraud or criminal activity is a pound that isn’t being invested in improving recycling infrastructure, supporting circularity or reducing environmental impact.
For those of us operating legitimately within the system, the principle is simple: the rules only work if they are enforced and if those who break them are held to account.
Tackling waste crime isn’t just about stopping bad actors. It’s about protecting the businesses that are doing things properly and ensuring the system works as it was intended.
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