← Back to House of Commons Debates
Illegal Waste Organised Crime 2025-11-17
17 November 2025
Lead MP
Calum Miller
Debate Type
Urgent Question
Tags
Migrants & BordersTaxationEmployment
Other Contributors: 31
At a Glance
Calum Miller raised concerns about illegal waste organised crime 2025-11-17 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm the assessment of the powers, funding and staffing of the Environment Agency to tackle organised criminal gangs illegally dumping waste in the countryside. The urgency stems from the recent incident in Bicester where illegal waste is threatening local waterways due to heavy rainfall.
Calum Miller
LD
Bicester and Woodstock
Question
Will Ministers issue a directive for urgent clearance of the illegal dump in his constituency before it is too late? Will they undertake an independent review of the Government’s response to waste crime?
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed awareness of the situation and mentioned ongoing criminal investigation with a restriction order. She offered continuing conversation outside the Chamber when the relevant minister returns from COP30.
Helena Dollimore
Lab/Co-op
Hastings and Rye
Question
Does she agree that the Environment Agency must look at the use of plastic beads in waste water treatment plants, which poses a serious risk to wildlife?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the issue and will write to all water companies asking them who is using these beads and what mitigations are in place. She agreed with preventing this from happening again.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Question
What analysis of reform are they proposing for the Environment Agency? What additional support do the Government give to tackle huge dumps like in Oxfordshire?
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted increased funding, reforms to the waste management and transport system under environmental permitting regulations, digital tracking, and extended producer responsibility initiatives.
Jessica Morden
Lab
Newport East
Question
Can she remind the House of tools that police and local authorities already have and what more can Welsh and UK Governments do to help Newport council?
Minister reply
The Minister did not provide a specific response in the given transcript.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
Waste crime is blighting rural communities, costing the UK economy £1 billion a year. It has been described as the “new narcotics” by a former chief executive of the Environment Agency. Will she support Liberal Democrat amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill which would designate serious and organised waste crime as a strategic policy threat?
Minister reply
I share the hon. Lady’s concern about waste crime. The Environment Agency has increased its budget for waste crime enforcement, but we are always open to looking at further measures that can be taken.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
Question
Notwithstanding what the Minister has said, the status quo is clearly failing. How will she ensure that we finally start holding to account all those who trash our environment?
Minister reply
We are taking forward many measures, including a digital waste tracking system and reviewing council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
The number of fly-tipping incidents per day is 3,157. What assurance can the Minister give me that my constituents in villages on the northern fringe of Bromsgrove will be protected from cross-border crime?
Minister reply
We are reviewing council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers and we are working with all local partners including police authorities.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Question
My constituency is on the edge of the west midlands conurbation, and has plenty of country lanes. Can she assure us that this Government will ensure that the Environment Agency has the resources to go after those who are destroying our precious environment?
Minister reply
We have introduced a 50% increase in the Environment Agency’s total budget for waste crime enforcement so it can better deal with such issues.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Question
Penn cricket club had contaminated soil illegally deposited on its grounds. Despite investigations, there is no end in sight. What support can the Government give to prevent delays?
Minister reply
I suggest that my hon. Friend writes to the nature Minister with more information so they can discuss this issue.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Question
Rural police forces are the worst-funded in the country, making it harder for them to deal with countryside crime. Will she work with the Home Office on including tackling organised waste crime as a strategic priority?
Minister reply
The Department is chairing the national fly-tipping prevention group which includes representatives from councils and other agencies.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Banbury
Question
Can she reassure my residents that the Government are supporting local authorities so they can fulfill their obligations to tackle environmental crime?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises an important point. The Environment Agency is working closely with all local partners and I am happy to offer him a meeting for more detail on what is happening.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
What assessment has the Minister made of the ability and capacity of the Environment Agency to control toxic emissions from waste incinerators?
Minister reply
All waste incinerators are tightly permitted. If there are problems with permitting or if permits are being broken, I encourage him to contact the local Environment Agency office for urgent investigation.
Lauren Sullivan
Lab
Gravesham
Question
Does the Minister agree that fundamentally the taxpayer should not be paying for organised crime; the criminals should be punished?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree. Waste criminals should face the full force of the law and be fined for their activities.
Tiverton and Minehead
Question
Please can the Minister make sure that fines meet the crime so they are penalised in their pockets, where they deserve it most?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right. One of the ways to tackle this is by using legal powers which could include an unlimited fine.
Katie Lam
Con
Weald of Kent
Question
Hoad’s Wood in my constituency was mentioned by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock, where criminal gangs have dumped 30,000 tonnes of waste over a period of six months without being stopped or apprehended. The Minister has been having many meetings about it; does she have an understanding on who is responsible in such scenarios to stop the criminals from repeating this?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady raises an important and serious case, which involves ongoing investigation. The nature Minister has had discussions about the matter, and lessons need to be learned to ensure that criminals are brought to justice for their actions.
Kevin McKenna
Lab
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Question
There is a mega illegal dump on Raspberry Hill Lane in my constituency, with accessory dumps nearby evading police and the Environment Agency. This not only destroys the countryside but also strains legitimate waste processing businesses such as Sweeep, Countrystyle, MVV and DS Smith. Will the Minister increase capacity of Environment Agency and the police to handle this problem by providing more resources?
Minister reply
I am horrified to hear about the illegal dump in my hon. Friend’s constituency; it is appalling. We are increasing funding for the Environment Agency and local authorities, and looking at ways to boost their powers to tackle such incidents.
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Question
A 200-tonne illegal dump in my constituency left a farmer with a £40,000 clean-up bill and the risk of criminalisation if he cannot clear it quickly. No single agency takes responsibility for investigating large-scale incidents on private land; does the Minister agree that this enforcement gap is completely unacceptable? Will the Government establish a single accountable authority to investigate waste crime on private land?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady raises an important point about the need to address the enforcement gap and improve penalties for those who commit these crimes. We are considering reforms to the carrier, broker and dealer regime to better track waste transfers, which will lead to tougher background checks and stronger penalties.
Lauren Edwards
Lab
Rochester and Strood
Question
Brambletree wharf in my constituency has been blighted by an illegal tip for years. A council enforcement notice recently expired without the site being cleared, yet I was informed that unfortunately the Environment Agency will not be prosecuting those responsible but leaving it to the local council. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the Environment Agency uses all its powers against such criminal activity?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises an important issue; she might want to write to the nature Minister with more details and information, as we could look at this in more detail than we have.
Gareth Snell
Lab/Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Question
While dumping and criminal gangs are one part of the issue, businesses that seek to circumvent legitimate waste disposal routes by passing it on to illegal dumpers is another. Can the Minister say more about what action might be taken to educate businesses on their responsibilities for waste and how to prosecute not just the dumpers but those producing waste?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right; there needs to be greater education on who we are giving our waste to. Digital waste tracking will make a big difference in ensuring that waste ends up where it should.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Question
In 2023-24, there were 1.15 million fly-tipping incidents across England, with about 47,000 classified as tipper-load lorry sized or industrial. A tip fire occurred in Dewsbury in early 2012, burning for four weeks and costing over £1.2 million to manage and clear the waste. What resources are the Government providing to Kirklees council to help keep waste and recycling centres maintained and open?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue; unfortunately, it is one that seems to be everywhere at the moment. The national fly-tipping prevention group shares best practice through local authorities.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Question
A contact of mine who used to work in environmental health tells me there is a misplaced perception that Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 prohibits surveillance of fly-tipping hotspots as directed surveillance. Could the Minister look into updating this statutory code of practice to provide examples for fly-tip surveillance?
Minister reply
The Environment Agency can authorise mobile communications data and use covert human intelligence sources; if there is more that can be done, I urge my hon. Friend to write to the nature Minister with further details.
Bobby Dean
LD
Carshalton and Wallington
Question
Residents in Woodcote area of my constituency have been living opposite an illegal waste dump for years, despite all photographic and video evidence produced. Can the Minister look into what level of proof is required to take action against such sites?
Minister reply
I urge the hon. Gentleman to request a meeting with the local Environment Agency area director and ask what further evidence is required to enable prosecution; if he is not satisfied, he should write to the nature Minister.
Sojan Joseph
Lab
Ashford
Question
It took four years before statutory bodies did anything about waste dumping in Hoad’s Wood near my constituency after it was originally reported. Can the Minister speak with local authorities such as mine to ensure immediate actions are taken against people committing these crimes?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to be angry; this is one of the reasons we have increased Environment Agency funding for waste crime enforcement by 50% and are keen to work with all local authorities to share best practice.
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
Devon county council received almost 5,000 reports of fly-tipping last year. Will the Minister speak with her counterparts at the Home Office about bolstering rural affairs teams in police constabularies such as Devon and Cornwall?
Minister reply
The Home Affairs team is on the Front Bench now; they will have heard the hon. Gentleman’s question.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Question
There is a serious fly-tipping issue in Birmingham due to the bin strikes. Residents are calling for CCTV cameras, but the city council has no funding available. Will this Government give additional resourcing to Birmingham city council for enforcement measures?
Minister reply
It is unfortunate that while the hon. Gentleman raises this here, he does not seem able to work cross-party on the ground. I encourage him to put party politics aside and work with local people to deal with this issue.
Dave Robertson
Lab
Lichfield
Question
In Lichfield, a fly-tip dump blocked access to properties requiring emergency services, including one resident who needs chemotherapy. Will the Government introduce an aggravating factor for such situations to ensure larger sentences for waste criminals?
Minister reply
I am so sorry about this issue in my hon. Friend's constituency. We will use every power we have to bring these waste criminals to justice.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Question
Fly-tipping costs £392 million annually and causes disunity between communities. Will the Minister agree to give more resources to local councils for enforcement measures such as cameras, prosecuting offenders, and imposing custodial sentences?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman's request for additional funding is why I am sure he will support our Budget next week.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Question
Fly-tipping affects both urban areas and beautiful countryside like Morecambe. What action are the Government taking to tackle this crime?
Minister reply
We are supporting councils to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers, forcing them to clear up their own mess, and providing statutory enforcement guidance.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
The Mobuoy illegal dump in Londonderry revealed an enormous operation involving criminals who buried vast amounts of waste. Will the Minister commit to liaising with the Northern Ireland Assembly on how better to work together for investigations across the UK?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for raising this important issue and assure him that I am sure the nature Minister meets the Northern Ireland Assembly regularly.
David Williams
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Question
The successful IDIOT campaign in Stoke-on-Trent has seen an increase in fines and a reduction in fly-tipping. Does the Minister agree that this is an apt title for such campaigns?
Minister reply
We could perhaps call many things 'idiot campaigns' but let us not get distracted. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's local council for tackling this important issue.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the issue of illegal dumping in the countryside and emphasised the commitment of this Government to tackle waste crime. She detailed that the Environment Agency has strong powers including entry, evidence gathering, access to police databases, and an economic crime unit targeting financial motivations behind offending. The Joint Unit for Waste Crime coordinates efforts across multiple agencies to disrupt serious organised waste crime. Funding has been increased by 50% this year to £15.6 million and further policy reforms are being planned to tighten the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system and introduce digital tracking.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.