Three men arrested for concealing waste in bales

Three men have been arrested in connection with a large-scale, organised waste disposal operation, which involves the alleged concealment of rubbish inside bale wrap.

The arrests, on Tuesday 21 January, follow an investigation into the illegal dumping of waste across several counties, including Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

Officers from the Environment Agency (EA), working with Cambridgeshire police, uncovered bales of waste wrapped in coloured plastic at a site.

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The bales were initially thought to be farming hay or silage. However, investigators discovered they were actually waste materials, concealed in an attempt to deceive landowners and the public.

In recent years, criminals have increasingly used plastic-wrapped bales as a tactic to hide waste. Often discarded in rural areas or farmland, these bales are passed off as legitimate agricultural storage.

Landowners and businesses have been tricked into accepting these bales, only to face expensive removal costs once the waste is discovered.

‘Stay vigilant’

The EA is asking landowners farmers and the public to remain vigilant.

“If you see any bales wrapped in plastic in suspicious places that do not appear to be hay or silage, please report them immediately,” said an agency spokesperson.

The EA also reminded farmers that a valid waste environmental permit is required to deposit and store bales of waste at any site in England, under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.

Anyone with information on the illegal dumping of waste should contact the 24-hour hotline at 0800 807060 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.