Work begins to remove 18,000 tonnes of waste from illegal Wigan site
The operation at Bolton House Road is expected to finish in spring 2027
Work has begun to clear an illegal waste site in Wigan, the Government has announced.
An estimated 18,000 tonnes of commercial and household waste will be dug up and removed from the Bolton House Road site.
Specialist removal teams will aim to clear up to 25 lorry loads of waste each day.
The whole operation is expected to be complete in spring 2027.
Why the clean-up is happening
The Government said the site has caused misery for people living nearby.
A fire started at the site in summer 2025, forcing a nearby school to close as a precaution.
The Government is carrying out the clean-up, working with Wigan Council.
It said the site is one of several being cleared across the country, including Midland Road in Bradford.
Sites were prioritised on scale, risk to nearby communities, environmental damage, and links to persistent non-compliance and organised waste crime.
The investigation
The Environment Agency is investigating who is behind the dumping.
Five arrests have been made as part of the investigation so far.
The Environment Agency is asking anyone with information to call its 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060.
People can also report information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or on its website.
Reaction
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "No community should have to live with the misery that illegal waste sites like this in Wigan inflict on their everyday lives."
She said: "This government is taking decisive action to put an end to waste crime, and this major clean-up is an important step in putting things right for local people."
Leader of Wigan Council, Labour's Councillor Nazia Rehman, said: "This local community has had to put up with this illegal waste site for too long, and the unacceptable impact it has had on their lives."
She said: "I want to thank everyone who has campaigned tirelessly to get us to this point and this is a really important milestone, with waste removal now underway."
Councillor Rehman said the council will keep the community's voice at the heart of the process as the waste is removed.
She said the council wants to keep talking to people living nearby about the future of the area once the site is cleared.
Caroline Berry, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Removing the waste is a major milestone, but it is not the end of the journey. We will work closely with the council on the long-term future of the site once the clearance is complete."
Government crackdown on waste crime
The clean-up follows the Prime Minister's announcement of a crackdown on waste crime.
The Government said it is increasing the use of drones, giving mayors and the police a bigger role, and raising fines for illegal dumping.
Fines for people who dump waste illegally or fail to treat it correctly are set to rise to up to £5,000, up from the current maximum of £300.
The Government said those responsible for serious offences can already face tougher sanctions, including prosecution and imprisonment.
The first meeting of a new Waste Crime Crackdown Group took place last week.
It was chaired by Dame Angela Eagle and brought together regulators and law enforcement.
The Government said the Environment Agency's powers to confiscate cash, cars, houses and other assets bought with the proceeds of waste crime will grow.
It said new powers in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will speed up confiscation orders.
Through its 10-Point Plan on waste crime, the Environment Agency is also suspending or revoking permits and naming illegal operators.