Yesterday the Environment Agency targeted 30 illegal waste sites across Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire in a day-long sting. The sting was covered by BBC Lincolnshire, East Midlands Business Link, Grantham Matters, and Let’s Recycle. The aim of the unannounced visits was to follow up on specific reports of illegal activity from local communities.
Mark Rumble, Enforcement team leader with the Environment Agency, said:
Waste criminals like those we’re tracking down flout the law and put our communities and our environment at risk. That’s why we take waste crime extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring those responsible to account.
These visits have been organised as a direct result of reports from local people, so we’d urge anyone with information about illegal activities to call our 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers.
Together with legitimate businesses and local communities, we can tackle crime in the waste sector, make a difference for our environment and make a better society for everyone.
During the visits, where the officers found legitimate businesses, they provided advice and guidance – but where they found evidence of activity such as illegal burning of waste, this will be used to take further enforcement action against those breaking the law.
In the announcement of the sting, the Environment Agency said that between 2011 and 2017, they shut down more than 5,400 illegal waste sites. An average of 2 such sites are shut down every day.