On a fundamental level, liability for pollution rests with the individual or business who produces it. This is the polluter pays principle, which was established in UK legislation within the Environmental Protection Act 1990, shifting the financial burden of pollution clean-up costs from the taxpayer to the polluter.
In the past, cleaning up and dealing with the long-term effects of pollution had been a job for the authorities, with the bill footed by the taxpayer. The polluter pays principle has led to the establishment of carbon taxes, emissions trading, waste disposal licences, and polluters’ liability in the event of accident or negligence.
However where multiple parties are involved in a project, every party has a duty of care to ensure that their business activities do not cause environmental damage. On this basis, if you are a business using a contractor, liability for pollution and waste management is shared between you and the contractor.