An environmental ‘disaster’ has been prevented with a £500k clean-up operation of waste dumped by the A14 between Kettering and Thrapston.
The clean-up was completed after fly-tippers used a strip of roadside land, including a stream, as a rubbish tip for hazardous materials including waste, oil and tyres.
Taxpayers, via National Highways and the Environment Agency, have been left with a clean-up bill of about £500,000 after they battled to protect the waterways and environment at the site near Thrapston.
National Highways head of network planning and development for the Midlands, Ian Doust, said: “This has been a very complex process battling to contain the spillage, protect the environment and remove all of the contamination whilst ensuring the embankment remains stable.
“What an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money and our time, all of which could be better spent elsewhere on our roads such as repairing potholes. All because someone chose to cut corners, save money and dump this potentially hazardous material next to the roadside.
“We are working closely with the relevant authorities to help ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Authorities were alerted to the dump with work starting in February by Environment Agency workers who moved in to prevent the contamination spreading as far as possible by putting booms put in place to contain the oil.
Hundreds of tonnes of tyres were removed safely, a tanker used to suck out the liquid from the ditch.
Sections of vegetation, including oil-soaked contaminated trees, had to be removed to enable contractors to access the site – which is down an embankment.
Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) tests were used to decide how the waste materials, such as contaminated soil, could be safely disposed.
Workers have now dug out contaminated sections of the embankment, cleared the oil polluted culvert replaced the soil and installed litter enforcement signs.
National Highways is also liaising with North Northants Council who will be undertaking spot checks with certain businesses in the area to check they are in possession of the appropriate licences and waste management plans.
It is hoped by the Enviroment Agency that the people responsible for the dumping will be held ‘accountable for their actions’.
Yvonne Daly, environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “This incident highlights the serious impact and cost of illegal waste dumping. Illegal waste disposal harms communities, damages the environment and undermines legitimate waste businesses.
“It can range from visible offences such as fly-tipping to more serious and organised criminal activity. These actions put people at risk, pollute land and water, and create a significant economic burden.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate incidents such as these and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
“The Environment Agency is not funded to clear fly-tipping. However, in line with the polluter pays principle, we will always seek to ensure that those responsible for dumping waste ultimately pay for the cost of cleaning it up.”
Many waste crime incidents are identified by members of the public, landowners and businesses, and reporting them helps the Environment Agency to build intelligence and target enforcement activity.
If people are concerned about the illegal dumping of waste they should call the 24/7 hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.
