The 29-year-old man was arrested at an address near Preston, Lancashire, on the morning of 12 October 2026 in a joint operation involving Lancashire Police and the EA.
He was questioned in connection with the illegal dumping of waste near Newcastle Airport at Callerton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and has been bailed pending further enquiries.
It follows the arrest of a 32-year-old man in Sunderland on 1 October in connection with illegal waste dumping at the former Dewhirst site on Thorpe Road, Peterlee, and at Hart Quarry in Hartlepool. He was also bailed pending further enquiries.
Together, the three sites contain thousands of tonnes of waste. The Callerton site has since been cleared by the landowner.
All three sites were reported to the EA over the summer. The agency responded by working with landowners to shut down the sites and install concrete blocks to prevent access.
Investigating officers have also carried out searches at the sites to gather evidence and help trace those responsible.
Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager at the EA, said: “We’ve been relentless in our investigation into these sites and two men have now been arrested.
“We’ll continue to put every effort into taking action against 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 said the arrests were an “important step” towards achieving justice for communities affected by the illegal waste sites.
She added: “Through our crackdown we are putting more officers on the frontline and driving faster enforcement and disruption of criminal activities.
“This government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime and this action shows we are delivering on our promise to bring these criminals to justice.”
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