Two illegal waste tips totalling 75,000 tonnes discovered in Burnley
Burnley has two illegal waste tips totalling 75,000 tonnes, according to Environment Agency data.
A BBC report has revealed the dumps contain approximately 50,000 and 25,000 tonnes of rubbish, respectively. They are among the 11 largest in the country, which are usually hidden in the countryside.
Here’s what we know so far:
How big is the problem?
The Environment Agency shut down 743 illegal waste sites in 2024/25, but 517 remain active. The scale of illegal waste dumping in England previously led Sir James Bevan, former Environment Agency chief, to call it the "new narcotics".
Who’s running the sites?
Police say many are operated by organised crime gangs who charge less than legitimate operators to dispose of waste, according to the BBC investigation.
What type of waste is being dumped?
The gangs tend to use numerous lorries and shredding equipment to transport and break down household rubbish, soil, and construction waste.
It is often piled up, buried under farmland or bridleways, or stored in barns.