Man arrested over illegal waste dumping at North East sites

The man was arrested at an address in Sunderland this morning (1 October 2026) in a joint operation between the Environment Agency and Northumbria Police.

He is currently in custody and is being questioned in connection with the illegal dumping of waste at the former Dewhirst site on Thorpe Road, Peterlee, and at Hart Quarry in Hartlepool.

The arrest forms part of a wider investigation into three separate illegal waste sites in the region, with the sites together containing thousands of tonnes of waste. The third site is located at Callerton, near Newcastle Airport.

The three sites. Which contained almost 3,500 tonnes of waste, were reported to the Environment Agency over the summer.

EA officers responded to the sites and, working with the landowners, shut down all three locations and installed concrete blocks to prevent further access.

Investigating officers have also carried out searches at the sites and gathered evidence to help identify those responsible.

Mark Rumble, environmental crime team leader at the Environment Agency, said the arrest was an “important step” in the investigation.

He commented: “Illegal waste sites are a blight on our communities and residents should not have to live next to eyesores and put up with the smells.

“We have stepped up enforcement action with our 10 point plan and I want to make it clear that we’ll do everything possible to trace those suspected of being involved.”

The Environment Agency said the action forms part of the government’s commitment to tackling illegal activity before it becomes established, through its 10-point plan on waste crime.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle added: “We said the years of organised criminal gangs getting away with dumping waste were over, and today’s arrest shows we are delivering on that promise.

“This arrest is a vital step in delivering justice for communities across the North East who have wrongly had to put up with these horrendous sites.

“Through our crackdown, we are stopping the cycle of waste crime and putting more officers on the frontline to restore pride in our communities. We will bring waste criminals to justice.”