UK's Biggest Illegal Dump Found: 30,000 Tonnes of Rubbish

Authorities have uncovered one of the largest illegal waste dumps in British history, containing approximately 30,000 tonnes of rubbish near Kirkby, Merseyside. The site, located just off the M57, is described as 'utterly horrendous' by local councillor Graham Morgan, with waste crammed into an area and spilling into a reservoir. Piles of rubbish reach six feet high, emitting smoke and a putrid smell. It is believed much of the waste was dumped in November. Merseyside Police and the Environment Agency have intervened, shutting down the site and vowing to prosecute the perpetrators. This discovery highlights a larger issue, with England having 517 illegal dumps, including 11 classified as 'super sites' containing over 20,000 tonnes. Recently, four men were arrested in connection with a 21,000-tonne site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, which is expected to cost £10 million to clear and has led to fears of pollution. Meanwhile, Newport in Wales has become a significant rubbish hotspot, with illegal dumping soaring by 6,000 percent over the last two decades, leading residents to initiate their own clean-up efforts.