Public tip-offs help Environment Agency halt illegal dumping

The Environment Agency has successfully shut down illegal waste activity at a former industrial site near Chesterfield, thanks to sharp-eyed members of the public.

Officers were alerted to suspicious activity at the Wingerworth site on Wednesday 29th April, following reports from local residents. By the following day, investigators had arrived to find approximately 100 tonnes of household waste dumped or buried on the derelict land.

Follow-up visits last week confirmed that the dumping had stopped and no further waste had been added. The landowner, working with the Environment Agency, has since secured the site with a rock barrier to prevent future access.

A criminal investigation is now underway, with authorities working to trace the hauliers responsible for the vehicle movements linked to the incident.

Ben Hocking, Environment Agency Area Environment Manager, said: “‘Our action at the site has disrupted further illegal waste activity. This situation really shines a light on the vital role the public plays in stopping waste criminals in their tracks. Communities are our partners in this – they act as our eyes and ears and reporting information to us as soon as possible means we can take swift action to intervene. Waste crime blights communities and we’re taking faster action to disrupt and prevent activity before it’s established.’

Waste Minister Mary Creagh also issued a stark warning to offenders: ‘These waste cowboys are shameless but we have cracked down hard to stop further damage in Chesterfield. Our message is simple: break the rules and we will hunt you down. This Government has a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime. Our Waste Crime Action Plan has new powers and stronger punishments to stop these criminals in their tracks.’

The intervention forms part of the Environment Agency’s new 10 Point Plan, which focuses on early action to tackle illegal activity before it becomes entrenched. The plan strengthens prevention, improves detection, and delivers more consistent enforcement through existing partnerships and a sustained programme of action.