A significant multi-agency operation targeting waste crime in Cumbria has uncovered multiple breaches of environmental regulations and transport laws. Led by the Environment Agency, the two-day initiative on 6th and 7th July 2026 involved traffic stops and inspections of waste sites, leading to several enforcement actions and ongoing investigations.
During the operation, traffic checks conducted at Todhills in Carlisle, in conjunction with Cumberland Council and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), focused on ensuring that waste was being transported legally and that carriers possessed the necessary licences and documentation. These checks revealed that a number of waste carriers were not complying with legal requirements, prompting further investigation by the Environment Agency, which has committed to taking robust enforcement action against those found to be breaking the law.
In parallel, the Environment Agency collaborated with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to carry out compliance inspections at three permitted waste sites. Officers visited North West Recycling Limited at Rockliffe Estate, Carlisle, and JJC Hire Limited and Sinkfall Recycling, both located in Barrow-in-Furness. These inspections assessed whether the sites were adhering to the conditions of their environmental permits, with follow-up actions to be implemented where non-compliance was identified.
This concentrated effort in Cumbria is part of a wider national drive by the Environment Agency, which has stepped up its campaign against waste crime through its new '10 Point Plan'. This comprehensive programme aims to strengthen prevention, enhance detection, and ensure more consistent enforcement across the waste sector. Aaron Wood, an Environment Agency Waste Team Leader for Cumbria and Lancashire, emphasised the harm waste crime inflicts on communities and affirmed the agencies' determination to disrupt such operations and gather intelligence for effective action.
The Environment Agency encourages the public to play a role in combating waste crime by checking the public register of waste carriers before hiring anyone to remove waste. Landowners are also advised to regularly secure and inspect their properties to prevent illegal dumping, for which they could be held liable. Suspected waste crime, including illegal dumping, suspicious movements, unlicensed operators, or unusually cheap disposal offers, can be reported to Crimestoppers or the Environment Agency incident line.