Despite the disruption of the Covid-19 health crisis throughout 2020 and into the New Year, criminal activity within the waste industry has not been allowed to go unchecked, with the new Joint Unit for Waste Crime [JUWC] having enjoyed a successful first year of operations. Meanwhile, one foodservice contractor has used the last year to bring its own zero waste solution to the UK market as part of its mission to help the planet.
First launched in January 2020, the JUWC was the first taskforce of its kind, designed to bring environmental regulators and law enforcement agencies together to tackle severe and organised waste crime, which is estimated to cost the UK economy £600 million per year and cause significant environmental damage, as well as harm to local communities and firms.
Although the Covid-19 crisis struck in the agency’s fledgling months, the JUWC has been actively involved in intelligence-sharing, identifying illegal activities and conducting its own operations to crack down on waste criminality. The British Transport Police and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency were added to the new taskforce’s array of resources in September 2020.
The JUWC’s Deputy Director for Enforcement, Nicola Lawton, commented: “The JUWC is crucial to our fight against serious and organised waste crime, and despite the Covid-19 pandemic we have continued to target and disrupt the criminal networks who are undermining the waste industry and the environment.
“In the last year we have conducted numerous multi-agency operations against groups and individuals who are causing serious harm, and the Unit is now leading over 20 operations into offending that spans the UK and involves not only waste crime but other criminal activities including firearms, drugs, vehicle theft and money laundering.”
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow added that the new unit has continued its work in earnest into 2021 and will continue to tackle waste crime wherever it is uprooted.
She said: “The past year has been a real challenge for our enforcement agencies as they carry out their important work, and I commend the Joint Unit for Waste Crime for its vital efforts in disrupting the criminals and gangs who show complete disregard for our waste industry, local communities and the environment.
“We are absolutely committed to clamping down on waste crime and I look forward to seeing the Joint Unit go from strength to strength over the coming years as it protects the public and the environment from harm and brings waste criminals to justice.
“Much waste crime is carried out by gangs and individuals who operate bogus waste services, accepting payment for disposal without having the necessary permits for transportation or storage. Waste is then illegally dumped on private and public land to avoid fees and landfill taxes, which causes significant harm to businesses, local communities and the environment.”
While the JUWC has been determined to crack down on the longstanding issue of criminal groups and individuals misusing waste, the Covid-19 pandemic has in many respects provided the nation and the wider world with a significant wake-up call with regards to the environment and sustainability. With that in mind, one foodservice contractor has seized upon the last year to bring its own patented solution to the UK market, and is on its own mission to reduce waste pollution by ensuring that it produces no waste at all.
BonCulina offers a “simply different” approach to foodservice which is targeted toward zero waste, and operates restaurants and canteens without having kitchens and chefs on site through the use of its patented Torus Pak technology, which reduces the food waste of each meal by up to 90 per cent. A portion of the company's profits are also invested into the ‘Meal for a Meal’ CSR programme, which tackles world hunger.
Its operations span a significant part of the UK public sector, with BonCulina having worked in care homes, hospitals, and the Armed Forces before entering the UK education sector in 2020 in an effort to increase its market share.
BonCulina secured contracts with two Northumberland schools, namely Rosewood Independent School and Branton Community Primary School. The pupils at these schools will once more be privy to high-quality plated meals with restaurant-standard presentation once allowed to return to school premises when current Covid-19 restrictions on the education sector are lifted.
The firm hopes that its foray into the education sector can provide a springboard to widen its presence in the industry, while providing a fresh approach to the education food service market.
Much like the JUWC, BonCulina’s UK sales and operations director Chris O’Neill feels that their mission has only just begun and the business has much more to give in not only improving food service, but preserving the environment and encouraging other firms to go greener.
O’Neill said: ‘It is great to enter the education sector and provide tasty, appealing and nutritionally balanced meals that support students in their school day. We aspire to be different in foodservice by delivering cost efficiency and simplicity through our vast central recipe database. This, in combination with optional operating methods offers flexibility and consistency beyond most clients’ needs and requirements.
“We have seen unprecedented demand for flexible foodservice solutions in an environment of rapid change during the pandemic and we want to provide such solutions for the benefit of our clients and the planet. Our decision to increase capacity and expand operations in the UK, reflects the strength of the market.
“Our meals are frozen and packaged individually, helping us to manage fluctuating numbers and safety issues in the new Covid landscape. This also brings added benefits such as longer shelf life and easy storage.”
