Illegal waste at Hoad’s Wood fully cleared as crackdown continues

A notorious illegal waste dump that blighted the beloved Kent beauty spot Hoad’s Wood has been completely cleared, the Environment Agency announced today, as the government’s crackdown on criminal waste gangs continues.

The ancient woodland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest with rare plants and wildlife, had been targeted by organised criminals. They piled waste up to 15 feet high in places before officers shut the operation down.

In total, 39,500 tonnes of commercial waste have been removed from the site, in an operation led by the Environment Agency and carried out by Acumen Waste Services Ltd. More than 50 specialist workers took part in the massive dig-out.

With the clearance finished, focus now shifts to healing the land. Access to the site will be restricted, giving nature the space and time it needs to recover.

The Environment Agency is working with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and Kent Police to track down the criminals behind the dumping, and three men have already been arrested as part of the investigation. This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of a crackdown on waste crime, with the government and Environment Agency working together to ensure serious, organised criminal gangs have nowhere to hide.  

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said:

This government is taking action on the illegal waste sites that have blighted communities.

Handing this ancient woodland back to local people, alongside our nationwide clean-up of waste sites, shows just how serious we are about restoring the places people love.

We will find those responsible and make sure they face the consequences.

Matthew Higginson, Environment Agency Area Environmental Manager, said:

It’s fantastic to see this important site cleared and set on the path to recovery.

We are working hard to prevent this sort of dumping from happening in the first place, removing the criminals and corruption from the waste system and improving the exchange of intelligence between agencies.