Agency boss defends staff action on waste crime

The boss of the Environment Agency has hit back at accusations of incompetence after a cross-party group of peers said the regulator and other agencies were failing to tackle a surge in waste crime.

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Waste crime is on the up

The Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee warned that organised crime gangs are illegally dumping millions of tonnes of waste across the countryside every year, in a report released last week.

The committee identified incompetence at the Environment Agency as a factor in the growing crisis.

Philip Duffy, the agency's chief executive, hit back at this statement when quizzed about the report by MPs late.

Appearing before the Commons Environment Committee, he said: "It's unfair on my hardworking staff to be accused of incompetence.

"They are not incompetent.

They are doing a very good job in very challenging circumstances.