Peterlee - Watchlist site 177

There has been an unauthorised deposit of around 400 tonnes of mixed shredded waste at watchlist site 177 in Peterlee near Durham. The site has now been secured and waste deposits have ceased.

The main potential problem presented by the waste on site is that in the event of a fire, firewater run-off poses a real risk to the nearby surface water. The local Fire and Rescue Service have been advised on operational mitigation measures.

Under the lead of the Environment Agency’s Environmental Crime team for the North East area, the site has been secured and waste deposits have now ceased. Two arrests have been made in connection with the investigation and our inquiries continue.

We will continue to monitor the site, assess environmental and amenity-related risks and issue advice and guidance to the landowner and our partners. We will work with partner organisations and take appropriate regulatory action, where necessary, to minimise impacts and support the remediation of the site. The investigation remains ongoing.

In the interest of public safety, we have issued messages advising the public that there have been multiple fires on site since the waste was deposited and that they should avoid the area, report any suspicious behaviour and contact the fire and rescue service in the event of a fire on site.