In the UK, Japanese Knotweed is established in the wild in many parts of the country and creates problems due to the impact on biodiversity, flooding management and damage to property. It is an offence under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any plant listed in Schedule nine, Part II to the Act, which includes Japanese knotweed. Within towns, householders and landlords in 2014 who did not control the plant in their gardens could receive an on-the-spot fine. It is also classed as "controlled waste" in Britain under part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.