Environment Agency staff joined forces with partners to enter onto a suspected illegal waste site in Essex
Environment Agency staff joined forces with officers from Essex Police, Essex County Council Planning Enforcement and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service to enter onto a suspected illegal waste site in Essex.
The visit, which took place on 30 June under the name Operation Nutmeg and with strict adherence to social distancing measures, followed on from an earlier visit to the site in the Bradwell Wick area carried out at the start of June.
The aim behind the planned action was to work with enforcement partners to gather intelligence and evidence and disrupt those believed to be involved in illegal waste activities.
Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader Lesley Robertson said:
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:
Sergeant Paul Brady from the Essex Police Rural Engagement Team said:
Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said:
Illegal waste sites can cause serious pollution incidents, bad smells, chemical spills, blight on the landscape, and misery for surrounding communities.
Sites that store or treat hazardous waste and chemicals without safeguards are breaking the law and risk causing serious pollution incidents that damage rivers, habitats and pose a risk to human health.