'Disgusting' clinical waste dumped on Sheppey beaches

Campaigners are calling for a full-scale clean-up of beaches on the Isle of Sheppey following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped clinical waste.

The "hundreds" of vials, labelled Virus Transport Medium, are believed to be among thousands of tonnes of waste dumped over the cliffs at the north of the island.

The area is a 750-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest, an important wildlife habitat, famous for its fossils.

Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey Kevin McKenna, who has a degree in microbiology, said he was "deeply concerned" and called for the Environment Agency to start an "urgent investigation".

Fossil hunter Daniel Hogburn said he had seen hundreds of vials on the beaches, adding, "Imagine if a child was to pick one up and, dare I say, drink it. It's disgusting."

He said the vials stretched from holiday destinations Minster to Leysdown, and possibly beyond due to the recent strong winds.

Local residents have described how up to 30 lorries a day tipped waste on an industrial scale over the cliffs from 2020 until 2023, when the sites were closed by the Environment Agency.

Vials such as these are used by medical professionals to transport swab samples taken from patients to laboratories for analysis, in order to determine whether the patient is suffering from an infection.

It is currently unclear whether the vials have been used, which would make them a biohazard.

Erosion from waves is now washing the waste out on to the beaches and into the sea.

Campaigners said it had made the beaches, once frequented by dog walkers, ramblers and anglers, a no-go zone.

"For many people on Sheppey, our coastline is far more than just a stretch of beach, it's a place of natural beauty, local pride, and a vital part of our community and economy," added McKenna.

"The scale of this issue and the uncertainty around the nature of the materials involved is extremely worrying for residents and visitors alike.

"That's why I am calling on the Environment Agency to carry out an urgent and thorough investigation into the site at Warden Point, to establish the risks and set out what action is needed to make the area safe."

A petition for the Crown Estate, Government and Swale Borough Council to pay to clean the beaches has collected more than 32,000 signatures.

The vials are dated 2022 and the labels suggest they were manufactured by E and O Laboratories, based in Scotland.

There is no suggestion E and O Laboratories were involved in the illegal dumping. They have been approached for more detailed information.

The Environment Agency has been approached for comment.

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