EA stops suspected unlawful waste exercise at Worcester web site

The Environment Agency issued the location operator with a suspension discover as a result of piles of wooden and plasterboard exceeding secure limits and a failure to keep up hearth breaks on 17 February.

However, responding to experiences of latest automobile exercise, Environment Agency inspections on 23 and 25 February confirmed new waste had been introduced onto the location. The waste had been pushed up right into a pile round 6 metres excessive, each inside and outdoors of the primary shed.

On 27 February, the Environment Agency served the operator with a restriction discover, which prohibits entry to the location as a result of danger of great air pollution.

Enforcement officers have put concrete blocks on the web site entrance to help the restriction discover and disrupt any additional unlawful waste exercise.

These actions type a part of wider lively investigations into waste crime, fraud and cash laundering within the Midlands.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency stated:

Illegal waste scars our surroundings and communities. Working with native councils, the police drive and our different companions in Worcestershire, we’re dedicated to stopping this appalling situation.

Together we’re pulling each lever out there to us to disrupt those that revenue from the hurt unlawful waste actions trigger.

In 2024/5, the Environment Agency stopped exercise at 743 unlawful waste websites, 84 of which had been within the West Midlands Area.

Anyone who suspects unlawful waste exercise is requested to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline – 0800 80 70 60 – or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Background

• Blackpole Recycling Ltd is a band B operator and has a allow for the storage and remedy of combined non-hazardous waste, together with wooden, mixture and metals.
• Based on Environment Agency inspections, important quantities of suspected unlawful waste has just lately been dumped on the location.
• The Environment Agency is working with native councils and the police drive to analyze suspected unlawful waste exercise at a number of websites within the Worcestershire space.
• On 8 January the Environment Agency labored with police and different companions on a day of motion involving unlawful waste websites in Worcestershire that led to arrests: £100,000 cash seized in warrants linked to ongoing waste crime investigation. The outcomes of this present day of motion are an instance of utilising completely different companies’ enforcement powers to succeed in a profitable consequence and disrupt prison exercise. Working in partnership enhances our skill to guard communities and the setting.
• Tackling waste crime usually entails complicated, prolonged investigations to construct instances that rise up in courtroom. We perceive the frustration this will trigger for native communities.