Our top waste crime stories
Read our top waste crime stories
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Belgravia waste crook forced to pay £1.4m compensation
A prolific waste criminal has been ordered to hand over more than £1.4 million for illegally dumping more than 4,000 tonnes of waste across England. A nationwide investigation by the Environment Agency uncovered a network of 16 illegal dumping sites, stretching from the South East to the North West.
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Enhanced package of cutting-edge technology to combat waste crime
Waste criminals will be detected and stopped before they even get started, thanks to a new package of surveillance and investigative measures announced by the Environment Agency (EA) today (Friday 20 February 2026).
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Northumberland company fined for illegal asbestos waste site
Reddem Ltd, based at Queens Road, Wooler, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 February. It pleaded guilty to one offence of operating an illegal waste site and another of keeping or treating waste in a way likely to cause pollution to the environment or harm to human health by storing waste containing asbestos in open containers.
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Serial waste crook forced to pay over £1.4 million for widespread illegal dumping
A prolific waste criminal has been ordered to hand over more than £1.4 million for illegally dumping in excess of 4,275 tonnes of waste across England.
A nationwide investigation by the Environment Agency uncovered a network of 16 illegal dumping sites, stretching from the northeast to the south coast. Farms, a historic manor house and a nature reserve were among the locations trashed.
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Essex arrests in waste crime probe
Now under investigation, 2 men have been arrested in relation to waste dumped in a field near Romford. Essex Police responded to a 999 call about waste left on private land close to the M25’s junction with the M11, in the village of Stapleford Tawney.
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Arrest made & vehicle seized in waste investigation in Merseyside
An arrest has been made and heavy goods vehicle seized during an investigation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Merseyside.
On Monday 2 February, following allegations of illegal dumping, the Environment Agency joined forces with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and Merseyside Police in the operation at an alleged illegal waste site in Liverpool.
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Essex pair arrested in connection with illegal waste dumping
Two individuals from Essex have been arrested for illegally dumping waste at six locations across Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Buckinghamshire, the Environment Agency has announced today (Friday 6 January).
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Environment Agency shuts down Yorkshire illegal waste site
The Environment Agency has blocked access to land in Yorkshire to prevent the illegal dumping of waste. A court order is now in place prohibiting anyone from importing waste into the site at Pyethornes Farm in Wigglesworth, Skipton.
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Environment Agency shuts down illegal waste site in Minster
The Environment Agency have issued a Restriction Order on an illegal waste site at Power Station Road on the Isle of Sheppey. This allows the Environment Agency to prevent anyone entering the site without express permission.
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Cornwall firm illegally stored waste including animal blood
A Cornwall-based liquid waste collection business has been ordered to repay £600,000 after being prosecuted by the Environment Agency. Roger and Angela Smith, trading as R & A Cleansing, based at Ashwell Farm, Coads Green, Callington, Cornwall pleaded guilty to the offences at Truro Crown Court on 30 January 2026.
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ITV Meridian reports on the Environment Agency’s work to tackle waste pollution in Chichester, highlighting action being taken to protect local communities and the environment.