An enormous illegal waste dump estimated to contain around 30,000 tonnes of rubbish has been discovered on the border of Knowsley and Liverpool, near Kirkby. The site, described as an example of “organised crime on a mass scale”, is now subject to a criminal investigation by the Environment Agency (EA).
The Liverpool ECHO uncovered the dump after an anonymous tip-off. Hidden behind trees lining the roadside off junction 4 of the M57, the scale of the waste has shocked local residents. Clean-up costs are estimated to be at least £4 million, with landfill tax alone calculated at around £126 per tonne.
Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley said: “It’s totally horrendous and unacceptable that this huge illegal waste dump is in my constituency. I am extremely concerned about the effects that this could have on the health of residents.” She has raised the issue with the Minister and will meet her soon, adding that sentencing and punishments for such crimes need to be far stronger.
Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan visited the site to assess the damage. A council spokesperson said the legal responsibility for cleaning up lies with the landowner, but noted that in similar cases landowners often fail to take action. The tipping costs alone could reach £4 million, before transport and remediation costs are added.
The EA confirmed it took action with Knowsley Council and Merseyside Police to shut down access to the site. A spokesperson said: “We are hunting down those involved. The public should be assured that we will use all our powers to prosecute the criminals responsible.” The EA started a criminal investigation after officers attended the site in December following reports of mixed waste being deposited. Previous waste exemptions have been deregistered.
