The Environment Agency (EA) has said it is ‘carefully considering’ claims that toxic chemicals have been found at illegal waste dumps across the UK.
The regulator has responded to an investigation by Sky News, which has been working with scientists to test the air, water and soil at three large-scale illegal waste sites.
The investigation tested a dump in Over, Gloucester, where 100,000 tonnes of waste were dumped over seven years ago and has still not been cleared, a 55,000-tonne waste dump in Ranskill, and an illegal waste site in Wigan on land owned by King Charles.
The investigation found chemicals were present at the Wigan site that have not been approved for use in the UK for decades as they pose a danger to human and animal life.
The Environment Agency said its scientists will ‘carefully consider’ the investigation and called waste crime an ‘absolute disgrace’ that harms communities and the environment.
“That’s why we’re taking tougher action than ever before to crack down on the criminal gangs behind it,” a spokesperson continued.
“Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we’re giving the Environment Agency police-style powers, investing £45m to boost enforcement, and making criminals pay for the damage they cause.”
The investigation will raise questions over how the Environment Agency monitors high-risk waste sites for toxic chemicals.
The dump on Bolton House Road in Bickershaw, Wigan, is spread across land owned by Wigan Council and the Duchy of Lancaster, the King’s private estate.
Under environmental regulations, landowners are typically responsible for clearing waste that has been illegally dumped on their site.
However, the Duchy, which inherited the land due to an ancient law, said it is exempt from regulatory obligations as the estate did not inherit any liabilities attached to the property.
In May, a 58-year-old man from Birmingham was arrested for environmental, fraud and money laundering offences in connection with the dump as well as multiple illegal waste sites across England.
As part of its Waste Crime Action Plan, the government has committed to funding the clean-up of the site, along with two other dumps in Sheffield and Lancashire, at the taxpayer’s expense.
Environment Agency Chief Executive Phillip Duffy said the government had committed £65 million towards the clearance operations.
However, five months after the announcement, no further details have been released on the timeline for clearing the site.