PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham is ordering a crackdown on waste dumping linked to organised crime - with his Government now assessing a huge illegal dumping site in Bradford's Midland Road
The 2,000 tonne dumping site on Midland Road has been identified for a potential clean-up under a national scheme backed by the Prime Minister and Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle.
The T&A was the first news site to report on this illegal waste operation following concerns raised by residents.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowed to crack down on illegal waste sites
Now the Government is funding the clean-up of three of the worst illegal waste sites in the country, including Midland Road in Bradford, as part of a wider enforcement package, subject to a feasibility assessment.
Burnham: 'I said we would clean them up'
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "These toxic dumps have blighted communities for too long.
"I said we would clean them up – and that’s exactly what we’re announcing today.
"The days of making easy money out of waste are over.
"We’re giving authorities the powers to hunt down the people responsible.
The suspected illegal waste site can be found off Midland Road, Bradford
(Image: T&A)
"We will seize their assets and shut their operations down.
"These mountains of rubbish have been a clear sign to communities that politics hasn’t been working for them or their area.
"This government is going to tackle the issues that have been ignored by Westminster for too long and bring back hope."
Fines to rise to a whopping £5k
The Government’s plan targets criminal gangs operating illegal waste sites using drones, increased police involvement, and more Environment Agency (EA) officers on the ground.
Fines for waste offences will also rise sharply - from £300 to £5,000.
Mayors will play a central role in leading regional enforcement efforts, with West Yorkshire among the first areas piloting the new approach.
Bringing reassurance to communities
Kimberley MacPherson, EA area director for Yorkshire, said: "We welcome the commitment from the Government to assess the Midland Road illegal waste site for clearance.
"This will bring reassurance to the local community which, over the summer, has been unfairly impacted by the offensive and unacceptable illegal waste activity.
"We acted quickly to prevent further dumping, have seized a vehicle involved, and an investigation to trace those responsible is ongoing.
"We will not tolerate waste crime, and those involved will pay the price for the impact they have on our communities."
The Midland Road site was discovered at the end of June, and the EA subsequently seized an HGV linked to the illegal dumping in July.
The Government’s Waste Crime Action Plan focuses on both clearing existing illegal dumps and disrupting the organised networks that operate them.
'This ends now'
A new Waste Crime Crackdown Group, chaired by Dame Angela Eagle, will unite regulators and law enforcement agencies to dismantle these criminal operations.
Dame Angela said: "This isn't just about people dumping rubbish.
"Large-scale waste sites are fuelled by serious, organised crime, and we need to use the full force of the law to tackle it and root it out at source.
"Communities have been subjected to horrendous conditions and denied the pride they deserve in the places they call home.
"This ends now.
The Midland Road illegal dump site
(Image: Environment Agency)
"We are cleaning up sites, but we are also stopping the cycle, driving faster prevention and disruption, better intelligence, and stronger coordination across the system."
West Yorkshire will be a forerunner of the new model
West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester will be the first regions to implement the new, region-led model.
Mayors and council leaders will coordinate enforcement action across councils, police, and regulators, using regional intelligence to target the areas most affected.
The plan supports the Prime Minister’s broader mission to restore hope to communities through immediate action and long-term prevention.
How does this impact the EA?
The Environment Agency will be given stronger powers and increased resources to investigate and prosecute waste crime.
Officers will also be empowered to confiscate assets - including cash, cars, houses, and other assets - acquired through illegal waste operations.
New legislation under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will further accelerate the enforcement of confiscation orders.
The Midland Road illegal dump site
(Image: Environment Agency)
The Midland Road site is one of three identified for clearance, alongside sites in Kent and Surrey.
Together, the sites contain around 22,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste and are harming an estimated 2,900 families.
The clean-up effort is part of a wider Government drive to tackle waste crime and restore community pride across Britain.