New conference will shine a light on the blight of waste crime amid record incidents

A brand-new national conference taking place next week will address the growing challenge of waste crime, following new Government data showing that fly‑tipping incidents in England have risen to their highest level since records began.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Waste Crime Conference, supported by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), will bring environmental health professionals up to speed on the key issues being faced by local authorities in the fight against waste crime.

With high‑profile cases of illegal dumping and large‑scale fly‑tipping in the spotlight in recent months, the conference will explore the scale of the problem, its impact on communities, and how these trends are likely to shape the work of environmental health teams in the future.

The half‑day event opens with a keynote address from Phil Davies, Head of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime at the Environment Agency. Phil will outline current illegal dumping practices and provide an update on emerging trends and challenges in combating this growing threat.

That will be followed by a talk delivered by Richard Hudson from CIWM on ‘Waste crime at a crossroads: the current landscape and frontline challenges’.

A panel session will then examine how local authorities can work in partnership to manage expectations, improve public understanding, and strengthen their response to waste crime. Speakers include Dr Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy; Ayeisha Kirkham, Head of Service at South Kesteven District Council; and Philippa Arnold from the National Farmers Union (NFU).

The second half of the conference will then focus on real-world case studies starting with a session on how to target waste crime through seizing vehicles, led by Chris McAvoy, Head of Enforcement and Community Safety at the London Borough of Havering.

The event will be rounded off with a talk on waste crime sentencing in practice from Victoria Molley, Solicitor Advocate – Prosecutions at South Tyneside Council and Ayeisha Kirkham from South Kesteven District Council returning to lead a session on rural waste crime.

Phil Davies, from the Environment Agency, who will deliver the events’ keynote session, said:

“I am looking forward to highlighting the current threats and risks we see from organised crime operating within the waste sector and what challenges and opportunities there are to combatting this criminality and the potential future serious consequences to industry, the environment and human health.”

Nikki Pearson, Head of Membership Services at CIEH, said:

“Waste crime is a developing challenge for local authorities, communities, and the environment. We are pleased to bring together experts from across the sector to shed light on the realities on the ground and provide valuable insights that will help environmental health professionals strengthen their response and protect the communities they serve.”

The CIEH Waste Crime Conference 2026 is being held on Thursday, 19 March and is open to CIEH members and non-members. For more information and to book a place, visit: https://www.cieh.org/events/2026/march/cieh-waste-crime-conference/