Integrity is the bedrock of the green transition. This was underscored this week when the Environment Agency (EA) arrested two individuals in Penzance, Cornwall, in connection with a staggering £6 million packaging waste fraud.
How the “Ghost Credit” System Worked
Under the Packaging Producer Responsibility regime, accredited reprocessors sell credits (PRNs) to businesses to prove their packaging has been recycled. In this case, it is alleged that the suspects sold credits for thousands of tonnes of waste that were never actually reprocessed. These “ghost credits” not only defraud businesses but rob the UK’s recycling infrastructure of vital funding.
A War on “Waste Cowboys”
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh was blunt in her response, stating that “no stone will be left unturned in our war on waste crime.” This case follows 18 other arrests in the last two months alone, signaling a massive crackdown on environmental crime.
How to Protect Your Business
For clients of Go Green Now, this story is a reminder that compliance isn’t just a paper exercise. Fraud in your supply chain can lead to:
-
Reputational Damage: Being linked to “greenwashing” or illegal waste disposal.
-
Financial Risk: Having to “re-buy” legitimate credits if your current ones are found to be fraudulent.
-
Legal Scrutiny: Increased EA audits of companies using low-cost, unverified waste partners.
Our Advice: Always vet your waste reprocessors. If a deal for recycling credits looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Visit our list of vetted members for all of your sustainable needs