Government plans to clear Sheffield site where 20,000 tonnes of waste were dumped in national crackdown
The Government has said it will directly fund the clean-up of some of the worst illegal waste sites in England , including a location in Sheffield where 20,000 tonnes of waste were dumped.
The move is part of a "zero-tolerance" new action plan to tackle the £1 billion problem of waste crime, as officials warn around a fifth of all rubbish is illegally managed, with gangs behind it becoming increasingly sophisticated.
It comes in the wake of figures showing fly-tipping on public land climbed nine per cent last year to new highs, while massive illegal waste sites such as a 150m-long mountain of rubbish near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire have prompted public outcry.
The Government has committed to clearing up some of the worst sites, and says on-site feasibility assessments would take place for clearing an industrial site in Sheffield where 20,000 tonnes of waste was dumped.
Assessments will also take place as soon as possible at Bolton House Road in Wigan, where 18,000 tonnes of waste was dumped, and a stretch of land in Hyndburn, Lancashire , where 10,000 tonnes has been left, officials said.
The action plan will ramp up efforts to punish offenders, with proposals to force fly-tippers into "clean-up squads" doing up to 20 hours of unpaid work clearing up mess in public spaces and make them pay the cost of clearing the waste they dumped.
The Government will also introduce landfill tax rebates for local authorities that step up to clear sites.
The plan also includes giving courts the power to award penalty points on driving licences for fly-tipping offences.
A large amount of fly-tipping takes place on private land, with farmers and businesses left picking up the tab for a crime which they are victims of, so the measures include working with the insurance industry to ensure landowners can be covered for the costs of clearing illegally dumped waste.
Under the plans, the Environment Agency will step up enforcement and intervene earlier, backed by an additional £45 million from the Government over the next three years.
The agency, which regulates waste - will make greater use of powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately - with up to 51 weeks in prison for an operator who ignores the restriction.
It will also suspend or revoke permits for rubbish handling where there is evidence of criminal activity, and create a new "intelligence unit" to hunt down criminals using tools ranging from aerial surveillance to financial data.
And for the first time the Environment Agency will name and shame illegal waste operators.
The Government is also looking to give the agency "police-style" powers so that officers could search premises, seize assets and arrest people suspected of waste crime without a warrant.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long.
"This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences."
Environment Agency (EA) chief executive Philip Duffy added: "Waste crime is not a new issue, but the threat is evolving and our response needs to move up a gear.
"We will act earlier, faster and smarter by shutting down illegal sites before they become established, using our powers decisively to strip rogue operators of their permits, and working with police, HMRC and councils to go after criminal assets.
"These measures will ensure we stay one step ahead of waste criminals and protect the communities, businesses and environment that they blight."
And he urged the public to report illegal dumping through Crimestoppers or the EA's incident hotline.