Our top waste crime stories
Read our top waste crime stories
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Major clean-up begins at notorious Kidlington waste site
A major clean-up operation is now underway in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where trucks have begun removing mountains of illegally dumped waste, the Environment Agency has announced today (Tuesday 14 April 2026). The operation - led by the Environment Agency and carried out by Acumen Waste Services Ltd - will see an estimated 21,000 tonnes of commercial and household waste, including tyres, shredded plastic, and household rubbish, dug up and removed from the notorious illegal waste site.
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Essex skip-hire boss and firm plead guilty to waste crime charges
The owner of a company hiring out rubbish skips in Essex has pleaded guilty to a range of offences over how the business was run. Roy Brett’s yard is nestled in green fields near Braintree, but he ignored repeated warnings about the amount of skips and waste built up at the site through his company, RJ Brett Contracts Ltd, which also admitted breaking the law.
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Waste company crackdown secures £28,500 for charities
Waste companies that operate in Bristol, Cornwall and Devon investigated over waste regulations and will pay £28,500 to environmental charities. Three South West-based waste companies have had to pay out large sums of money for environmental projects after failing to comply with their legal obligations. The Environment Agency investigated Winfield Transport Limited, Ranjit Farming and Gwella Contracting Services Ltd over a failure to comply with waste regulations.
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Lancashire company and director fined for illegal exports
than £142,000 for illegally exporting contaminated plastic waste across the world to Malaysia. 3R Technology UK Ltd, based at Longbridge Road in Preston, and Director Yulin Wang, 56, of Haighton Drive in Preston appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 24 March where they pleaded guilty to 16 charges. The court heard the company exported waste falsely described as clean plastic, when it was actually contaminated with electrical waste, including wiring and circuit boards and other mixed waste.
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Waste criminals to pay over £67,000 in confiscation orders
A crooked family who ran an illegal waste site in Lincolnshire must pay a total of nearly £67,000 in confiscation orders, following a Proceeds of Crime hearing. This follows an investigation by the Environment Agency – named Operation Lord – into the site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington near Grantham. It led to 12 people being convicted and one company. The hearing was held on Monday 30 March 2026, at Nottingham Crown Court. Judge Steven Coupland ordered that Joshua Canner, 30, of Main Road, Bilston, Warwickshire, must pay £55,723.21.
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Farmer who allowed waste to be dumped at beauty spot sentenced
A North Yorkshire farmer who allowed thousands of tonnes of waste to be dumped on his land in a Yorkshire beauty spot has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to clear the eyesore. Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, Hayden Fortune, 50, of Pyethornes Farm, Wigglesworth, Skipton, was sentenced at York Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 26 March after previously pleading guilty to operating an illegal waste site.
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Permit revoked and two waste sites shut down in waste crack down
The operator of a poor performing waste site that has caused misery for local residents has had its environmental permit revoked after a major day of action targeting waste crime at West Lancashire industrial estates. It comes following reports from residents in Simonswood that piles of illegal waste have been causing horrid smells and dust issues – with some parents choosing to stop their children playing outside. Monday’s (23 March) Environment Agency led multi-agency crack down at Simonswood and Williams Brothers Industrial Estates in Simonswood (bordering Kirkby) - saw two illegal waste sites shut down.
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Arrest made in multi-million pound waste packaging fraud case
An individual in Birmingham has been arrested as part of an investigation into waste plastic packaging fraud and money laundering, the Environment Agency has announced today (Thursday 26 March 2026). In a dawn operation taking place yesterday (Wednesday 25 March 2026), officers from the Environment Agency worked with West Midlands Police to arrest a 49 year old man for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
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Greater Manchester agencies unite to tackle waste crime
Friday’s event (20 March) - attended and supported by Deputy Mayor Kate Green - brought together representatives including the Environment Agency, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities. It built on the existing coordinated action against waste criminals who blight communities, damage the environment and undermine legitimate businesses.
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Illegal waste site in Ramsgate shut by Environment Agency
The Environment Agency has locked the site’s gate, placed concrete blocks to prevent access and a placed a warning notice at the entrance of Units 26 and 27 at Leigh Road, Haine Industrial Estate in Newington. This means anyone entering the land without reasonable excuse or written permission from the Environment Agency will be committing a criminal offence, as will anyone who tampers with the lock or notice.
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