Our top waste crime stories
Read our top waste crime stories
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Pet cremation firm’s permit mistake pays for salmon aid
Failing to get a permit for veterinary waste has seen a pet cremation firm pay for environmental improvements. Thanks to Environment Agency intervention, Valley Pet Crematorium in Paignton has agreed to pay £60,000 to Westcountry Rivers Trust as part of its mission to improve the passage of salmon and other fish in the Teign catchment.
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Environment Agency suspends Chichester waste site permit
The Environment Agency has served a notice to suspend the environmental permit for a waste site near Chichester with immediate effect. This means that Twyford Recycling Limited, of Twyford Avenue, must not bring waste of any description on to their site. The Environment Agency visited the site on Thursday 18th June, and identified several issues with fire safety and the risk of pollution.
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Pair guilty after waste dumped in Norfolk
A man and a woman have been fined and forced to pay legal costs after waste was dumped in a Norfolk village. A van owned by Rebecca Simper was seen at 2 locations in Clenchwarton being watched by the Environment Agency. Meanwhile, Luke Webb’s white Ford Transit tipper truck was captured by covert cameras at one of the sites.
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New permit issued for Beddington energy-from-waste site
The Environment Agency has approved an application for a new permit submitted by Viridor South London Ltd. It will enable the company to increase the amount of waste handled at its energy-recovery facility at Beddington in south London. Specialist officers have considered proposals in detail, along with information and evidence provided during 2 public consultations, and is satisfied the permit variation can be granted.
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Lancashire recycling company sentenced for illegal waste exports
The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a recycling company for attempting to illegally export plastics contaminated with household waste. MV Recycling (UK) Ltd has been fined after attempting to illegally export plastics contaminated with household waste – including sanitary products and nappies – three times in one year. The company pleaded guilty to all three charges related to the exports and was ordered to pay £30,400 in fines and prosecution costs.
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New watchlist published to put a spotlight on waste
For the first time, a national watchlist of waste sites in England has been published, as part of the Environment Agency’s enhanced response to tackle the issue. The watchlist published today (Friday 22 May 2026) contributes to the Environment Agency’s enhanced intelligence gathering of the 117 sites to enable residents to see where we are acting. It forms a central part of the Environment Agency’s 10 Point Plan to tackle waste crime, a comprehensive strategy that places transparency and community engagement at its core, while enlisting the public’s help in identifying and reporting criminal activity.
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Man arrested in connection with illegal waste dumping
Arrest demonstrates Environment Agency's commitment to delivering its 10 Point Plan to tackle waste crime. A man has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into large-scale, illegal dumping of waste at multiple sites across England, including the notorious Bolton House Road in Wigan. Officers from West Midlands Police, working in support of the Environment Agency, secured the arrest of the suspect. A 58-year-old male from the Birmingham area was arrested for environmental, fraud and money laundering offences.
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Third waste carrier convicted in Environment Agency operation
Waste carrier DTM Grab Hire Ltd has been told to pay out £16,664 after thousands of tonnes of waste were dumped on a floodplain. The Environment Agency has now prosecuted the landowner of the site and two waste carriers as part of the investigation. Plymouth Magistrates Court heard that DTM Grab Hire Ltd deposited 3,490 tonnes of soil, stones and road planings at the illegal site between 3 January 2021 and 11 September 2021.
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New reforms to stop waste criminals from exploiting loopholes
New reforms are set to tighten the net on waste criminals with tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and advanced background checks to help put rogue operators out of business. As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, underpinned by the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, laws being laid this week will require waste handlers to prove they are qualified to transport waste.
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Environment Agency puts brakes on illegal waste site
The Environment Agency has stopped illegal waste activity in its tracks at a site near Chesterfield. The intervention at the former industrial site at Wingerworth followed reports from the public about illegal waste dumping. Environment Agency officers made enquiries on Thursday 30 April following public reports the previous day of suspicious activity at the derelict site. They found around 100 tonnes of household waste had been deposited or buried on the site.
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