The Environment Agency issued a statement yesterday, August 18, saying its Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and Lancashire Police carried out a “successful” raid on an illegal waste site in Great Harwood near Blackburn.
The Agency said illegal waste actives were being carried out on the site, including the handling and storage of scrap material, the landfilling of taxed waste, and illegal burning.
The Agency said an estimated 50,000 tonnes of waste was landfilled at the site
It was reported that an estimated 50,000 tonnes of waste has been landfilled at the site and a number of skips containing mixed household and busies waste were observed.
The JUWC was set up in January 2020 to tackle “serious and organised” waste crime and brings together law enforcement agencies, environmental regulators, HMRC and the National Crime Agency (see letsrecycle.com story).
Clampdown
A spokesperson for the JUWC said: “We are dedicated to clamping down on serious and organised waste crime. By working collaboratively with a wide range of enforcement agencies, our vital work disrupts criminality and ensures those responsible are held to account.
“Our previous order to cease waste operations on this site was ignored, and we have therefore taken the necessary enforcement action”
“Our previous order to cease waste operations on this site was ignored, and we have therefore taken the necessary enforcement action.
“We will continue to take action against the operators of this site until the activity has ceased or is being carried out in compliance with the law.”
The Environment Agency urged Lancashire residents to make sure any local skip hire firm they use has the necessary permits.
Prosecution
However, the waste management consulting company, 360 Environmental, criticised the Agency on twitter for not clamping down on the site earlier, and questioned whether the waste suppliers of the site will be prosecuted.
Not entirely sure I would be blowing my trumpet at raiding a site that seems to have been allowed to accumulate 50,000 tonnes of illegal waste. How could this not have been spotted earlier and will suppliers of waste to the site be prosecuted under DoC? https://t.co/iPEwlM5HGg
— 360environmental (@360env) August 18, 2020
The post Agency carries out ‘successful’ Blackburn raid appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
