The operation will see more than 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste removed, the regulator outlined. The clean-up is being coordinated by the Environment Agency and carried out by approved contractors Acumen Waste Services Ltd (see letsrecycle.com story).
The Agency explained that Hoad’s Wood is a site of special interest. Highlighting the scale of the damage, the Environment Agency stated that organised criminals dumped lorry loads of waste, piled up to 15 feet high in certain areas, in 2023.
The Agency then explained that more than 50 specialist workers have been deployed to dig up the harmful waste and carefully transport it for safe disposal at approved facilities. It noted that the whole operation is expected to take more than a year.
Emma Viner, enforcement and investigations manager at the Environment Agency, commented: “Today marks an important step in the journey of bringing Hoad’s Wood back as a sanctuary for both wildlife and people.
“Our efforts are now focused on removing all the waste and bringing those behind this heinous crime to justice. Complex investigations like this take time but we are using our specialist enforcement resources to make sure this type of crime does not pay.”
Investigation
The Environment Agency said it continues to progress the criminal investigation into the illegal tipping of waste at Hoad’s Wood. It added that, working with the Kent Police and the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, it arrested three individuals in February. Evidence obtained during these arrests is now being used to support the next stages of the investigation, the regulator stated.
To address the environmental damage to the woodland, the Environment Agency is set to monitor the site for any effect on air or water quality as the harmful waste is safely removed.
The Agency noted that this work is being carried out with the agreement of Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Ashford borough council.
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