Iwade - Watchlist site 129

Basser Hill in Iwade, near Sittingbourne, Kent is an illegal waste dumping site consisting of construction and demolition waste including waste soils. The Environment Agency was first made aware of the situation in March 2025. The site is no longer receiving waste and a major clean-up operation is now underway. However, it appears that waste continues to be treated on site without the necessary environmental permit.

Problems associated with watchlist site 129 include dust emanating from the mountain of waste, the creation of an unsightly blot on the landscape, water or drainage concerns if the waste enters the watercourse, and continued noise from traffic and machinery.

The Environment Agency has clearly stipulated that if the site owner does not clear the waste swiftly and effectively, it will take the necessary enforcement action, such as enforcement notices to require the landowner to remove it. The operator has said they want to make the activity legal in the future and reuse some of the soil on site. We will consider this as part of our ongoing regulatory work. The operator has made progress in removing waste from site but there is more to remove in the next few months.

During our regular inspections of the site, we have not seen any signs of new waste arriving, although some small-scale burning and waste treatment are still happening. 

Supported by the local authority and the police, we will continue to monitor the site and take the necessary action to put an end to illegal waste activity.