The Environment Agency’s Illegal Waste Site Taskforce (IWST) took part in a nationwide ‘day of action’, as part of a co-ordinated approach to crack down on waste crime.

The task-force is on a mission to stop illegal waste sites that undercut legitimate business and blight local communities. The first nationwide operation was organised to disrupt the supply of waste to illegal waste sites, gather intelligence on waste carriers and crack down on illegal waste sites.
The day of action comes as part of an ongoing blitz on criminal waste operations which began at the end of 2011, to identify and close down illegal sites which in turn, protect legitimate recycling businesses and local communities.

Alan Brown, a lead on Midlands IWST said: “Illegal waste sites put both people and the environment at risk. The National Day of Action enabled us to conduct targeted stop checks of carriers heading towards illegal waste sites, along with site visits across the Midlands. It provides us with an opportunity to disrupt the supply of waste to illegal waste sites, gather intelligence on waste carriers and also raise awareness of the IWST and educate carriers about their responsibilities. Our specialist teams work in partnership with the police and agencies like Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and HMRC.”

Illegal sites are causing serious pollution incidents, bad smells, chemical spills, blight on the landscape, and misery for surrounding communities. Sites that covertly hold hazardous waste and chemicals without safeguards are breaking the law and risk causing serious pollution incidents that damage rivers, habitats and pose a risk to human health.