The Agency said it was the biggest operation of its kind ever carried out in a single day across the region. It confirmed today that no arrests were made but that further action may be taken.
Officers will follow up on specific reports of waste being burned illegally by commercial ventures, the Agency said.
Commenting on the operation, Mark Rumble, enforcement team leader with the Environment Agency, said: “Waste criminals like those we’re tracking down today flout the law and put our communities and our environment at risk. That’s why we take waste crime extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring those responsible to account,” he said.
Crime
Mr Rumble added: “These visits have been organised as a direct result of reports from local people, so we’d urge anyone with information about illegal activities to call our 24 hour incident hotline. Together with legitimate businesses and local communities, we can tackle crime in the waste sector, make a difference for our environment and make a better society for everyone.”
Evidence gathered from the visits, according to the Agency will be used against those breaking the law.
Further enforcement action could include work with local authorities, the police and HMRC to prevent and disrupt crime, serve of notices to have waste removed from land, and prosecute offenders. If convicted of illegal waste activity, offenders face extensive fines and even prison sentences.
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