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Waste Crime: Three Arrested in 1,200-Tonne Dumping Near Broads
10 Feb
Summary
- Around 1,200 tonnes of waste was illegally dumped near the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.
- Three individuals were arrested in connection with the large-scale waste dumping incident.
- The landowner faces potential bankruptcy due to estimated clean-up costs of £400,000-£500,000.
An estimated 1,200 tonnes of mixed household, commercial, and industrial waste were illegally dumped and buried near the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, a protected wetland area. Three individuals have been arrested by the Environment Agency in connection with this 'waste crime' and released under investigation. The dumping is believed to have occurred in May of the previous year, impacting a four-acre site owned by Peter Dive.
Mr. Dive, the landowner, described the situation as a "ticking time bomb" and expressed extreme distress, estimating that the clean-up costs of between £400,000 and £500,000 would leave him bankrupt. He stated that waste found on the site contained letters with addresses from Bedfordshire, suggesting a long-distance origin for the dumped materials.
Central Bedfordshire Council confirmed its collected waste is managed by licensed contractors and is not subject to the Environment Agency's ongoing criminal investigation. A government spokesperson emphasized a commitment to tackling waste crime, including increased enforcement and tougher penalties for offenders, acknowledging the significant distress and financial burden such incidents place on landowners.
