Environment Agency reveals the North West’s illegal waste sites

Derelict Mills filled with tyres and terraced houses stuffed with bin bags is the real picture of illegally dumped waste in the North West. Now a targeted campaign by the Environment Agency aims to catch and prosecute the criminals whose sites are putting communities at risk and legitimate traders out of business.

The push is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the practice that is taking place on 594 sites across England and Wales. The North West is benefiting from a specialised team of officers who are using an intelligence-led approach to prevent and bring into regulation illegal waste sites.

In the North West 105 illegal sites are being investigated. By analysing trends in the type and location of the sites the Environment Agency can identify serial offenders and bring them to justice.

Old cotton mills filled with used tyres are a theme in East Lancashire, as well as empty houses being used for waste storage in Burnley.

This type of environmental crime affects legitimate waste disposal companies that are undercut by unregulated businesses with rock bottom prices. Householders and businesses have a duty of care to ensure that their waste is passed to registered waste carriers and ends up at licensed facilities.

The most common type of waste that is housed in illegal sites is construction and demolition waste, (29%) household and business waste, (25%) old cars and vehicle parts, (25%) and tyres (5%).  Un-regulated sites pose a risk to the public because of hazardous waste, pollution and the threat of fires.

The Environment Agency is using a range of approaches to stop waste crime including injunctions and prosecutions. The campaign is a message to illegal operators that penalties include up to five years in prison and unlimited fines.

Gordon Whitaker, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency said, “Illegal waste sites pose a threat to the health of the public, the environment and the economy. We have a committed team in the North West that is focused on identifying illegal waste sites and bringing about prosecutions where necessary to ensure the safe handling of waste in this region.“

Waste crime blights our communities putting people and the environment at risk ...

FACT: the Environment Agency are currently investigating reports of  74 Illegal Waste Sites in Lancashire and Cumbria, and 31 illegal waste sites in the areas of Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

FACT: they work with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, HMRC and the Ports Authority to target serious, organised waste criminals.

FACT: penalties include up to five years in prison, unlimited fines and the confiscation of illicit profits. The Environment Agency has specialist teams who work with the Police and other enforcement agencies to tackle waste crime.

Photos of the Environment Agency tackling waste crime can be found at, http://www.flickr.com/photos/environment-agency/sets/72157628287623613/