Clean-up of illegal waste supersite costs taxpayers £6m
The clear-up of a major illegal waste site in Oxfordshire has resulted in a £6 million bill for taxpayers.
By BBC News
The clean-up of one of England's largest illegal waste tips, located in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, has been completed, costing taxpayers £6 million. The government has committed to recovering these costs from the criminals responsible for the illegal dumping, which involved approximately 22,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste. This site is one of nearly 30 identified as 'supersites' in a BBC investigation.
In a recent crackdown on waste crime, the government announced plans to enhance efforts to ensure that criminals are held accountable for clean-up costs through asset confiscation. However, data from the Environment Agency indicates that over the past five years, only about £7 million has been recovered from waste criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Campaigners have criticized the amount recovered as insufficient, with the Country Land and Business Association questioning the effectiveness of current deterrents against waste crime. Between January 2021 and March 2026, there were 66 confiscation orders amounting to £7.3 million, with some payments still pending.
Baroness Sheehan, chair of the House of Lords environment and climate change committee, highlighted the need for more decisive enforcement, stating that the costs of clean-up operations far exceed the amounts recovered from criminals. She emphasized that taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of these clean-ups.
In addition to the Kidlington site, the Environment Agency has also undertaken clean-up efforts at another supersite in Hoads Wood, Kent, with a combined budget of £20 million for these operations. The government estimates that around 20% of waste in England is managed illegally.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently announced a nationwide initiative to tackle waste crime, including plans to assess and clear three additional illegal waste sites across England. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle stated that the government is taking significant steps to combat waste crime, including deploying more officers and using drones for surveillance.
Despite these efforts, many illegal supersites remain, and it is unclear when or how they will be addressed. Local officials, such as Charlie Coats from Highnam Parish Council, have called for more action from the Environment Agency regarding other illegal waste sites in their areas.
The Environment Agency noted that some outstanding confiscation orders are still within the allowed payment period and that further asset recovery may occur as more information becomes available. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the Kidlington site, but they have since been released as investigations continue.