According to the government, an estimated 20% of waste in England is illegally managed, prompting a national clean-up effort following the removal of a 22,705-ton illegal dump near the A34 in Kidlington. The Environment Agency co-ordinated a five-month clearance operation at the Kidlington site using contractors from Acumen Waste Service, removing rubbish from an 8,000-square-metre area at an estimated cost of £6 million.
Government Supersites Earmarked for Public Clearances
Under the Waste Crime Action Plan launched under Keir Starmer’s administration, the government stated that the Environment Agency would step in “on an exceptional basis to clear sites where that waste presents an untenable risk to the public and the environment”. Typically, individuals who own property utilized for illegal waste disposal are responsible for funding the removal process. A total of six supersites have been selected for government-funded clearance, though they will undergo preliminary evaluations first. These locations include Power Station Road – Isle of Sheppey, Kent, Aymer Close – Runnymede, Surrey, Midland Road – Bradford, West Yorkshire, Alan Ramsbottom Way – Hyndburn, Lancashire, Worthing Road – Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and Bolton House Road – Bickershaw, Greater Manchester.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle stated: “After years of waste crime being allowed to fester, we are taking decisive action.” “By putting more officers on the frontline and using drones to catch offenders in the act, we’re putting the criminal gangs on notice that there is nowhere left to hide.” Despite these planned interventions, many more illegal supersites remain – and it is not known if or when they will be cleared up, and who will be made to pay. Charlie Coats, who serves as the chairman of Highnam Parish Council, is urging the Environment Agency to also address another such location situated in the rural area of Over, Gloucestershire. He told the BBC that the amount of money taken from waste criminals was “derisory” and added: “It acts as absolutely no deterrent whatsoever because the income that they can derive from this dwarfs anything by way of any fine.”
Did You Know?
The clearance operation at the illegal Kidlington waste tip involved removing up to 30 lorry loads of rubbish each day over a five-month period, clearing a site bigger than Wembley Stadium.
Enforcement Actions and Industry Calls for Stricter Penalties
Additional measures to compel criminals to cover expenses were also demanded by Gavin Lane, president of the CLA—an organization representing approximately 28,000 farmers, rural businesses, and landowners across England and Wales who frequently bear the financial burden of site clearances. “The punishment has to be real: seize their vehicles, recover the money they owe and make waste crime a losing business,” he said. In response to questions over outstanding penalties, the Environment Agency told the BBC that some of the unpaid confiscation orders were outstanding “because they are still within the six-month payment period allowed for settlement” and the failure to pay was a matter for the courts. Further financial recovery remains possible if additional details regarding the assets of the wrongdoers come to light.
According to Oxfordshire County Council, clearing the Kidlington tip—which the EA shut down in October 2025—brought great relief to local residents. Due to the proximity of the location to both a river and the A34, alongside its substantial size and extent, authorities emphasized that expediting the project was essential to prevent the severe disruptions and hazards that a fire would have triggered. Protective barriers were set up to safeguard the adjacent River Cherwell from potential contamination, and although routine water testing was conducted at the location, authorities reported that no signs of significant environmental harm were detected. Four men have so far been arrested in connection with the illegal waste tip at Kidlington. All have since been released while the investigation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of waste in England is estimated to be illegally managed?
The government estimates that 20% of waste in England is illegally managed.
How many illegal supersites have been earmarked for public clearance?
Six supersites have been earmarked to be cleared using public money, but they will be assessed first, including sites in Kent, Surrey, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester.
What actions are authorities taking to catch offenders?
According to the government, authorities are putting more officers on the frontline and using drones to catch offenders in the act.
What measures could authorities take next to address outstanding financial penalties and prevent further illegal dumping incidents?