Illegal waste from Scotland and Wales being dumped in Kent
The Police and Crime Commissioner says in some cases organised gangs are to blame
Illegal waste is being transported into Kent from places as far as Scotland and Wales and dumped at unauthorised landfill sites, according to Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.
Commissioner Scott has criticised the lack of collaboration between bodies such as senior police leaders, the Environment Agency, and local authorities, which he claims has allowed organised crime groups to profit from the issue.
He warned that this criminal activity is causing harm to wildlife, neighbourhoods, and rural areas, citing incidents like the massive illegal dumps at Hoads Wood near Ashford and Basser Hill near Iwade, both in Kent.
What is being dumped?
The waste, Commissioner Scott explained, comes from various sources, including clearances or building sites, and can include plastic, metal, chemical waste, or oil. If these toxins enter rivers and streams, as seen in the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, they present major environmental hazards.
In Kent, several unauthorised waste sites have been identified besides Hoads Wood, including Eastchurch Gap on the Isle of Sheppey, Brambletree Wharf near Rochester, and Raspberry Hill Farm at Iwade.
The site at Basser Hill is currently under investigation by the Environment Agency, which visited the landowner on 24th November, instructing them to clear existing waste and accept no more.
Profitable but damaging
According to Commissioner Scott, some organised crime groups are purchasing land specifically for the purpose of disposing of waste to avoid landfill taxes.
He said: “It’s as lucrative as other forms of organised crime, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it.”
He also highlighted a recent operation by Kent Police, known as Operation Assist, which intercepted vehicles carrying illegal waste into the county. One vehicle had reportedly travelled from Pembrokeshire and exceeded weight limits.
Scott believes policing and government leaders must act on this growing issue, saying: “Ministers must step up and provide the capacity, capability, and resources to fight back against organised waste crime. All agencies must play their part.”
Conservative Kent County Councillor Sarah Hudson agreed, stating that the situation “needs to stop,” adding that individual agencies often fail to consult one another effectively.
Environment Agency response
The Environment Agency says that waste crime costs the UK economy around £1bn each year, with the investigation at Hoads Wood currently ongoing following arrests made last February.
A spokesperson said: “Beautiful woodland spoiled by people who don’t care about that. It’s just about making money. We will seek to claim any money back from the offenders.”
To report waste crime confidentially, call the Environment Agency 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.