200 tonnes of asbestos waste have been dumped at locations on the A10 and A120 in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire County Council says it is working with partners to respond to a ‘significant and hugely costly’ fly-tipping incident involving 200 tonnes of hazardous waste.
Four trailers containing large quantities of suspected asbestos waste were abandoned at various sites on the A10 and A120.
The council says initial investigations indicate that each trailer contains around 50 tonnes of shredded asbestos material, which is about twice the legal carrying capacity of the vehicles involved.
Councillor Stephen Giles Medhurst said it was one of the ‘most serious fly-tipping incidents’ seen recently in Hertfordshire.
Two of the trailers have now been recovered by licensed waste management specialists, with the other two not currently considered ‘structurally safe to move’.
The council says it is working with partners and specialist contractors to determine the safest method of removing the two remaining trailers.
Based on similar fly-tipping incidents, the council says the cost of removing the hazardous waste could be between £35,000 and £50,000 per trailer.
Hertfordshire County Council has promised to make every effort to identify those responsible and to recover costs where possible through the appropriate legal processes.
Commenting on the incident, Cllr Stephen Giles said: “Disposing of hazardous waste in this way is reckless, irresponsible and can be very dangerous.”
“This is nothing but a criminal activity that has now cost taxpayers heavily, as we not only had to fund the clean-up but also the disposal of this waste. It means less money for carrying out other work.”
Giles urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or abandoned trailers.
