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<p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to eliminate all
avoidable plastic waste. In December 2018, we published the Resources and Waste Strategy,
which sets out how we want to achieve this and move towards a circular economy while
stamping out waste crime. We also committed in the Strategy to consult on measures
such as Extended Producer Responsibility for fishing gear.</p><p>The number of prosecutions
and convictions on discharging (a) general garbage, (b) plastic materials, and (c)
fishing nets, into natural waters in England are not centrally held in the court proceedings
database as these specific offences are not separately defined in legislation. Identifying
prosecutions and convictions for such actions would require a manual search of court
records, which would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 it is an offence to litter or to knowingly cause or permit the
unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste.</p><p>Published figures
for prosecutions and convictions for these offences are available in the Home Office
code principal offence tool at <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987731/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2020.xlsx"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987731/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2020.xlsx</a></p><p>
</p><p>It is important to note that these numbers include all prosecutions and convictions
that fall within each offence category, beyond those specifically requested and beyond
just natural waterways.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also publishes annual statistics for fly-tipping,
which include enforcement actions. These are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a></p><p>
</p><p>Under the Merchant Shipping Regulations on the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage
from Ships (2020), the discharge of all garbage into the sea is prohibited with very
limited exceptions. In all cases the discharge of plastic is prohibited. These regulations
bring the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from
Ships (MARPOL Annex V) into UK law. No data has yet been collected for these regulations.</p><p>
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