Environmental analysis news: Fall in pollution incidents

The number of incidents of serious pollution in England and Wales has fallen by 13 per cent during 2008, according to figures released by the Environment Agency.

Major pollution incidents have steadily decreased since 2001, with the number of occurrences across the country reaching its lowest levels in seven years.

Waste management companies were responsible for one-third of all episodes of severe environmental damage in 2008, with the majority of problems relating to air pollution from composting and landfill sites.

Although the number of serious incidents has dropped, the Environment Agency is urging courts to hand out bigger fines to ensure the downward trend continues.

Ed Mitchell, head of business performance and regulation at the body, said: "Major pollution incidents are rarer than ever due to tighter and more effective environmental legislation and efforts made by the industry."

However, he added that the agency "would like to see even higher average fines in future to provide an even stronger deterrent to any one polluting the environment".

The average level of fine for a business in 2007 was £10,508, down by over £1,000 on the previous year when the average financial penalty for breach of pollution laws stood at £11,800.

Posted by Claire Manning