12 well-known companies who have been prosecuted for polluting the environment

This week NationalWorld has exposed some of the biggest and worst offenders when it comes to environmental crime.

Their crimes, which span across the last two decades, have ranged from polluting waterways to leaking radioactive waste.

Some of the incidents have had major and significant impacts on England’s precious natural environment, resulting in courts handing down fines worth thousands – and sometimes millions – of pounds to perpetrators.

Here is what has been uncovered this week by NationalWorld:

Huge drop in prosecutions of companies for environmental crime as charity warns cuts have left watchdog toothless Water companies prosecuted hundreds of times for environmental crime More than 40 councils in England and Scotland prosecuted for pollution Dozens of companies prosecuted for radioactive waste and pollution offences in England and Wales over two decades The companies prosecuted for polluting England’s environment

Among the perpetrators are more than 2,500 companies – including household or High Street names.

Here we reveal 12 of the most well known.