July 28, 2020 2.03 pm This story is over 45 months old

Illegal waste site size of football pitch discovered

Huge piles of dumped waste from rogue traders
Enforcement officers carried out an inspection at the illegal waste site in Crowland. Photo: Environment Agency

An illegal Lincolnshire waste site the size of a football pitch used by rogue traders is now under criminal investigation.

The Environment Agency went for an inspection at The Streddars site on Hundreds Road in Crowland on July 23 as part of work to shut it down for good.

Piles of illegally dumped waste were discovered, including construction and demolition materials, metals, plastics and garden waste.

The site has been used by rogue traders to illegally deposit waste and is now under criminal investigation for operating without the legally required waste and environmental permits.

The Environment Agency will make further visits to inspect the area to make sure that illegal activities have stopped. It will also be inviting the site operator to formal interviews under caution in due course.

Enforcement officers are now urging waste carriers and traders not to drop off any rubbish at the site.

Yvonne Daly, environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: “It’s clear that this site has been used by rogue traders to illegally deposit waste.

“Activities like this have the potential to harm the environment, blight communities and undermine legitimate businesses that do follow the rules.

“Our role is to protect the environment for people and wildlife, so we won’t hesitate to take action against those who put it at risk.

“And to businesses flouting the rules our message is clear: you won’t get away with it.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is also making progress with its investigations into large scale fly-tipping incidents in Lincolnshire.