The Environment Agency has threatened a crackdown on poor performing composting and AD sites, where plastic is found in material to be spread to land.
And the action could have a knock-on effect on local authorities who could be in trouble for breaching duty of care rules for delivering contaminated feedstock to their organics contractors.
Addressing the annual conference of the Organics Recycling Group last week, Kathy Nicholls, senior advisor for biowaste treatment at the Environment Agency, warned: “As a regulator I’m getting a bit frustrated now – you have had the carrot and it is now the time to start using the stick.”