Criminal gangs blamed for surge in illegal waste

In the shadow of Bradford City's famous Valley Parade football stadium a crime scene is in place, with investigators sifting through thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped household and commercial waste.

Sandwiched between Midland Road and the railway line, the enormous pile of rubbish was reported to the Environment Agency (EA) on 1 July.

Since then officers from the EA, Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have been at the scene gathering evidence, as they try to work out who is responsible.

Already investigators have seized an HGV, found between Todmorden and Bacup, and the EA's area environment manager Ben Hocking said its inquiry into the "disgusting illegal dumping" was continuing "at pace".

Ian Walker, executive member for neighbourhoods and communities at Bradford Council was even stronger in his condemnation, calling it "organised criminality operating on a commercial scale".

The site is one of a number across England where communities are being blighted by large scale waste dumping.

Earlier this year the EA published a list of more than 100 "high priority" sites, including a number of so-called "super sites" that contain more than 20,000 tonnes of waste.

Some of the sites identified - which contain a wide-range of materials, including household waste, construction materials, asbestos and tyres - are tips that are operating without the correct permits.

Others are land, often privately owned and in the countryside, which has been used to dump huge piles of rubbish.

According to the EA, waste crime costs the UK more than £1bn every year.

Near Chesterfield, the landowner of a former industrial site at Wingerworth, spent £165,000 removing illegally dumped waste.

Investigators believe organised criminals had identified the premises as being well-screened from the road and then set about making it appear a legitimate site, installing signage and security at the entrance.

However, unusual activity at the site was later reported by residents to the EA.

Hocking said: "We were made aware by members of the public there was potential illegal waste activity going on.

"What we discovered was a company had set themselves up here as if they were making the site safe, but their intention was to clear the site, so it was ready for them to import potentially very significant amounts of waste."

In Sheffield, Geoff Howarth, has expressed frustration over an illegal dump next to his business in Attercliffe.

He believes it poses a health hazard and a fire risk.

"I don't believe this is going to be cleared in my Mum's lifetime. I don't think it will be done in my lifetime," the 53-year-old said.

Howarth who has been part of family business City Wholesale for around 40 years, says the problem is exacerbated in the hot weather, and says vermin are also problem.

"The smell that comes out of here ... with the heat that magnifies and draws it back out of the ground, so everything that has been tipped on here for all the months, years, you get the smell from that.

"Slowly but surely, you have now got the rats coming out for something new to eat.

"You are living on tenterhooks, and it's been like that for a long time now."

A restriction order from Sheffield Magistrates' Court stuck to the front of the business on Worthing Road, explains that it is an offence for anyone to enter the premises or dispose of waste under the Environment Act 1995.

The order has been continuously extended since 9 March 2023.

The government has pledged to crack down on waste crime to clean up streets and restore pride in communities, publishing a 10-point action plan to manage the problem.

It has committed to funding the clean-up of some of the worst illegal waste sites in the country, including the site in Sheffield.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds said: "Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment, and economy for too long.

"This Action Plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences."

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