Four men have been arrested in connection with a significant illegal waste dump, described as the worst in Britain, containing an estimated 25,000 tons of rubbish.
The site, located on Bolton House Road in Wigan, Greater Manchester, was discovered last summer after a multi-day fire prompted nearby schools to close. The dump, piled tens of meters high on a two-acre plot, consists of a mixture of household and commercial waste.
Residents have reported issues with flies, rats, and foul odors emanating from the site. The scale of the problem has led the government to intervene, with regional officials vowing to prevent similar incidents. Wigan Council has secured the entrance to the site with concrete barriers and is seeking a specialized contractor for the cleanup.
Law enforcement agencies, including Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and West Yorkshire police, collaborated with the Environment Agency's crime unit to make the arrests. The individuals apprehended include a 41-year-old and a 35-year-old, both from Wigan; a 24-year-old from Leeds; and a 59-year-old from Liverpool. They face charges related to environmental offenses, fraud, and money laundering.
The man from Leeds is also being investigated for waste dumping at the Cave's Inn Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest in Leicestershire. An additional suspect, a 58-year-old from the Birmingham area, was previously arrested in May in connection with the Bolton House Road dump.
It was previously reported that a portion of the land where the dump is located is owned by the King through the Duchy of Lancaster. The Duchy has offered to transfer ownership of the land to Wigan Council, stating that approximately 30% of the site is vested in the King's estate and asserting no responsibility for the cleanup.
Officials have condemned the illegal dumping. Sue Longstone, director of operations for the north at the Environment Agency, called the incidents "atrocious attacks on our communities." Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described the situation as "shocking" and emphasized that this type of dumping is "organised crime."
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle stated that tackling waste crime is a top priority, and the government is providing regulators with the necessary resources to dismantle criminal operations and hold those responsible accountable.
This incident follows other recent discoveries of large-scale illegal waste dumps, including a 7,500-ton pile found near Bradford City football club last month after residents complained of a strong odor. Investigations into that site are also ongoing. Testing at various illegal dump sites has revealed a complex mix of chemicals within the waste.