A ‘complex’ clean-up of dumped potentially hazardous waste, oil and tyres by the side of the A14 cost £500,000.
National Highways said the six-month clean-up operation helped avoid an ‘environmental disaster’.
The waste, including tyres and a mattress, was dumped in a ditch on the side of the A14 in Northamptonshire.
The Environment Agency were called in to place booms around the waste dump to contain oil that was spreading towards nearby waterways.
National Highways Head of Network Planning and Development for the Midlands, Ian Doust, said the costs were an ‘appalling waste of taxpayers’ money’ which could have been spent on repairing potholes.
“All because someone chose to cut corners, save money, and dump this potentially hazardous material next to the roadside,” Doust said.
“This has been a very complex process battling to contain the spillage, protect the environment and remove all of the contamination whilst ensuring the embankment remains stable.”
National Highways owns the land where the waste was dumped and began clearance work in February. Under environmental regulations, landowners are typically responsible for clearing waste that has been illegally dumped on their site.
Yvonne Daly, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said the incident highlighted the serious impact and cost of illegal waste dumping.
“The Environment Agency is not funded to clear fly-tipping,” Daly commented. “However, in line with the polluter pays principle, we will always seek to ensure that those responsible for dumping waste ultimately pay for the cost of cleaning it up.”