Drones Hunt Illegal Waste Dumps

The government is launching a "drones squad" to combat widespread illegal waste dumping. The Environment Agency plans to utilize drones equipped with advanced laser technology to map illicit waste sites and collect crucial evidence. Complementing this, new software will be implemented to cross-reference lorry and waste licenses, aiming to identify potential criminal operations.

This enhanced strategy addresses concerns following revelations of over 500 illegal waste sites in England, including numerous "super sites" exceeding 20,000 tonnes. Recent months have seen major illegal dumping sites identified in Cheshire, Cornwall, Kent, and Lancashire. The government has allocated £15.6m to waste crime enforcement this year, a 50% increase.

Phil Davies, head of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, emphasized the adoption of new technologies to counter increasingly sophisticated organized criminals. The unit's specialists will expand from 13 to 20, supported by 33 trained drone pilots. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds stated that advanced mapping, drone surveillance, and scanning tools are key to tracking, exposing, and stopping waste crime.