Action taken against unpermitted skip hire company in Great Harwood, Lancashire
A multi-agency approach has meant action is being taken to prevent an unpermitted waste business operating from a site near Alan Ramsbottom Way in Great Harwood, Hyndburn.
A notice has been served by the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), which prohibits people entering the site to store waste.
Officers from JUWC will take action against anyone found or attempting to continue to take more waste on to the site.
This action aims to limit future burning of waste, which has been causing upset to the community and damage to the environment.
The Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) is a multi-agency taskforce, dedicated to tackling serious and organised waste crime across the UK, reducing the impact on the economy, the environment and local communities.
Unregistered waste removal carriers often dispose of the waste in a way that can be harmful to communities or the environment, including burning or flytipping the waste into waterways. It is quick and easy to check online if your waste collector is a registered carrier before you use them.
JUWC have worked alongside the Environment Agency, Hyndburn Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Lancashire County Council and DVSA to obtain this court order. This will aim to support ongoing investigations into the site and operations.
A spokesperson for the Joint Unit for Waste Crime said:
“Through shared intelligence and enforcement, the Joint Unit is able identify, disrupt and deter criminals, making them pay for the damage they have done to communities and the environment.
“We are pleased to be taking action, by preventing more waste from entering this site we are limiting the fuel available for burning and disrupting business operations.
“The community can support our work by ensuring they only use legitimate waste service providers in the future. We are asking everyone to remain alert to the dangers that using an unpermitted skip hire company can cause.
“Everyone creates waste and we all have a responsibility to ensure it is handled correctly. It is important for all businesses and individuals to ensure any waste carriers used are registered and legitimate businesses.
“We are determined to make life hard for criminals like those operating across Lancashire and the North West and work closely with local teams to take offenders to court.
“Serious and organised waste crime is estimated to cost the economy at over a £1 billion a year in England alone, with perpetrators often involved in other serious criminal activity including drug and firearms dealing, large scale fraud and modern slavery. Those involved are highly dangerous.
“We always urge members of the public to report cases of waste crime anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A spokesperson for Hyndburn Council said:
“Tackling this community concern has been a top priority for us and we know residents in the local area will be pleased to see action being taken. We would like to thank all those who have provided information and evidence to assist investigations and appreciate everyone’s patience whilst we worked collaboratively with other agencies to take appropriate action.
“We would like to reassure our residents that incidents which impact quality of life, health and wellbeing in the borough will always be taken seriously and do encourage people to report concerns directly to us at the council if they are not a matter for police or fire service action.”
These types of unpermitted operations are often run by dangerous criminals who are usually involved in other unlawful activities. It is vital that anyone using a waste company knows the difference between a legitimate business and an illegal operation and what to look out for.
For information and advice about safe removal of skips and disposal of waste people can visit:
Waste duty of care: code of practice (accessible version) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste
Health advice from UK Health Security Agency
Any smoke can be an irritant and as such, if people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid outside areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.
Motorists needing to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.
Residents in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed, and follow fire service updates for further advice and information.
Some substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes.
Respiratory symptoms include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, sputum (phlegm) production and chest pain.
Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma. People with asthma should carry their inhaler.