Waste activity stopped at site under investigation

A skip firm has been ordered to stop its activity after concerns over an unauthorised tip.

Land at the MD Waste Management Ltd site on Edward Street in Hyde, Tameside, where a huge pile of rubbish has appeared, does not have planning permission for waste transfer activity, authorities said.

The Environment Agency (EA), Tameside Council and Greater Manchester Police are working together to investigate and remove the waste from the land.

"Illegal waste harms local communities and the environment," a council spokesperson said. The BBC has contacted MD Waste Management Ltd for comment.

Tameside Council has served a Temporary Stop Notice requiring "the unauthorised use of the site" to stop while investigations are carried out.

The council said it was working with the landowner to ensure compliance with the notice and the removal of waste from the land.

Caroline Berry from the EA said illegal waste activity was a "serious and persistent challenge".

She said the agency was strengthening its response through its 10 Point Plan, which aimed to "improve prevention, detection and enforcement against waste crime".

The government's waste crime action plan includes greater use of drones, more EA officers on the frontline and a larger role for police and the National Crime Agency.

Plans also include increasing fines for some offences to £5,000 from the current maximum of £300, including offences linked to illegal waste dumping and failures to handle waste correctly.

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