Environment Agency carries out operation in Boston and Skegness to clean Lincolnshire of illegal waste
Vehicles carrying hazardous waste have been stopped at the roadside to prevent illegal dumping in the county.
Operation Clean Sweep took place on Thursday (March 6 with roadside inspections in Boston and site visits in Skegness conducted by the Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership.
Five vehicles were found carrying waste unlawfully and three vehicles were seized. An illegal waste site was discovered and multiple fines were handed out for waste offences.
The multi-agency operation was led by the Environment Agency and involved Lincolnshire Police, British Transport Police, Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) working together to detect and disrupt illegal waste activities.
In Boston, teams conducted roadside stops and inspections of vehicles capable of carrying waste, with 25 vehicles inspected in total. Of the six vehicles found carrying waste, five were doing so unlawfully. Some had no explanation for their final destination, while two were carrying hazardous waste insecurely.
Boston Borough Council issued six £300 fines for waste offences and six notices to produce documents. Lincolnshire Police issued seven fines, 19 traffic offence reports, one summons and one caution. The DVSA issued 11 prohibition notices preventing onward journeys.
At the same time, two waste sites were visited in Skegness. One site was found breaching scrap metal legislation designed to prevent metal theft, while the other was identified as an illegal waste site.
Stuart Hoyle, Environment Agency waste crime specialist, said: "Large scale waste crime and fly-tipping can only happen through the use of vehicles, which is why operations such as Clean Sweep are vital for tackling waste crime. Last week’s operation uncovered crime, prevented offences and gathered a wealth of intelligence to aid future investigations.
“The operation isn’t possible without the collaboration of partners, so I would like to thank all Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership agencies, in particular the Roads Policing for its excellent work, and Boston United Football Club for the use of their grounds for vehicle inspections.”
If you suspect illegal waste activities, report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
