A BBC investigation has uncovered a disturbing trend of hundreds of illegal waste dumps operating across England, including at least 11 “super sites” containing tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish. This widespread illegal dumping activity has been described as the “new narcotics” by a former Environment Agency chief, with organised crime gangs profiting from exploiting the waste management system.
The data released by the Environment Agency reveals that while over 700 illegal tips were shut down in 2024/25, a staggering 517 dumps were still active at the end of last year. Some of the largest sites include a 280,000-tonne dump in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall, a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent, and a 20,000-tonne dump in Oxfordshire.
Many of these illegal operations are hidden in countryside locations, often on agricultural land. Police say they are frequently run by organised crime groups, who can charge much less than legitimate waste operators to take and bury the waste. This has led to a steady influx of lorries bringing in waste from household rubbish to soil and construction materials, which is then shredded and dumped in ever-growing piles.
The environmental impact of these illegal sites is severe, with reports of smoke, smells, and pollution leaching into local waterways. Residents living near the sites, such as in Gloucestershire, have expressed frustration at the lack of effective action to shut down the dumping and clean up the waste.
“It’s caused a smell, there’s been smoke, there’s been noise. It’s damaged a lot of vegetation, trees and bushes have been destroyed, and it’s a significant blot on the landscape,” said Charlie Coates, chairman of Highnam Parish Council.
The Environment Agency claims it is “pulling every lever” to disrupt those profiting from the illegal waste trade, but environmental campaigners argue that more public transparency and stronger enforcement is needed to tackle this growing problem. Baroness Sheehan, who chairs the House of Lords environment and climate change committee, said the BBC’s research had “exposed widespread illegal waste dumping across the country” and that current government actions are “not sufficient to deal with the problem.”
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has stated it is working across government to “wipe out illegal waste” and is providing more funding and resources to the Environment Agency to boost waste crime enforcement. However, with the dynamic nature of this issue, with new illegal sites constantly emerging, it remains to be seen whether the authorities can gain control of the situation and hold those responsible to account.
