“We are taking faster, more targeted, action against those in the waste sector who we suspect are breaking the rules,” said the EA’s Cumbria and Lancashire environment manager John Neville.
“Where we find evidence of illegal activity, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action – including revoking permits to remove operators from the waste sector and shutting down illegal operations.
“Waste crime causes real harm, blighting communities, causing pollution and undercutting legitimate businesses. Together with other agencies we are determined to stop it.”
Two waste sites were found by the EA to be operating without a permit: one accepting household skip waste; the other taking in inert material.
The EA required all activity to stop at the sites, and the removal of the waste.
The operator of a third site was asked to clear a small amount of tipped waste.
The EA also gave “pollution prevention advice” to the operators of two other sites.
