Home / Environment / Taxpayers Foot Bill for Jailbird's Waste Mountain
Taxpayers Foot Bill for Jailbird's Waste Mountain
21 Mar
Summary
- An illegal waste dump is located at a former scrapyard owned by a jailed fraudster.
- The 10,000-tonne dump is considered one of the country's worst illegal waste sites.
- Taxpayers will bear the multi-million pound cost of clearing the hazardous waste.
An illegal waste site, containing approximately 10,000 tonnes of dumped material, is located at a former scrapyard in Great Harwood, Lancashire. This site was previously owned by an individual incarcerated for his involvement in a £1 million stolen goods and money laundering scheme. The Environment Agency has classified this tip as one of the most severe illegal waste locations in the country, having previously secured a court order for its closure due to persistent illegal dumping and fires.
The environmental and community impact of this waste mountain has been significant. Authorities are now preparing for a costly clean-up operation, with the total expense for clearing several such sites expected to amount to millions of pounds, to be covered by taxpayers. A criminal investigation is actively underway, led by the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, aiming to prosecute those responsible for this environmental damage and disruption to legitimate businesses.
