New crackdown group targets the organised gangs behind illegal waste dumping

A new national group bringing together ministers, police, regulators, mayors and councils has been set up to go after the organised gangs behind illegal waste dumping, with arrests already rising.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle formed the Waste Crime Crackdown Group on 4 November 2026. Its job is to find the weaknesses in the waste system that criminals exploit, and to remove the obstacles to shutting them down.

Arrests are up

The government says enforcement is already getting tougher. Since April, 36 arrests have been made, with prosecutions, investigations and raids across the country. Environment Agency officers are using more drones to track down offenders, mayors are being given a bigger role in tackling waste crime in their areas, and fines for illegal dumping have increased.

Two of the worst illegal sites, at Kidlington and Hoad's Wood, have been completely cleared, and police have arrested suspects while investigations continue. Work is continuing to clear other sites, including Bolton House Road in Wigan and Midland Road in Bradford.

"Our message to criminals is clear"

Dame Angela said: "For too long communities have been left to live with the consequences of waste crime. I am changing that."

"Our tougher enforcement is already showing results with arrests ramping up. But these are organised criminals and we must keep up the pressure to disrupt their operations. The new Waste Crime Crackdown Group brings police and industry leaders together to share intelligence and close every loophole. Our message to criminals is clear: we're closing in."

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Getting organised criminals out of our waste system needs everyone to work together: police, regulators and local government. By sharing more intelligence, we can stop criminals getting their hands on waste in the first place."

Tougher powers

At its first meeting the group will look at stepping up enforcement and improving how intelligence is shared, and the Environment Secretary will ask where powers could go further.

Measures already announced include fines of up to £5,000 for people who dump waste illegally or fail to treat it correctly, plans to let the Environment Agency confiscate cash, cars, houses and other assets bought with the proceeds of waste crime, and tighter rules so that only low-risk activities can use waste permit exemptions.

What you can do in Birmingham

Fly-tipping blights streets, alleys and green spaces across the city, and much of it starts with householders handing rubbish to an unlicensed collector. Before paying anyone to take waste away, check they are a registered waste carrier on the Environment Agency's public register and ask where the waste is going. If your rubbish is found dumped, you can be held responsible.

Fly-tipping can be reported to Birmingham City Council online. Large-scale illegal waste sites can be reported to the Environment Agency, or anonymously to Crimestoppers.