A £4.8m clean-up operation has begun at an illegal waste site in Bickershaw, Wigan, where roughly 18,000 tonnes of toxic material were dumped without permission.
Wigan Council has appointed Acumen Waste Services Ltd to remove the waste from the site near Bolton House Road. The work involves excavating and transporting commercial and household waste away, with specialist clearance teams aiming to remove up to 25 lorry loads each day. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by spring 2027.
Background to the illegal dumping
The site has caused significant disruption to the local community. A week-long blaze in July 2025 saw tonnes of waste go up in flames, releasing hazardous fumes and forcing local schools to shut. The site lies within Andy Burnham's Makerfield constituency.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that the clean-up operation would 'bring relief to a community that has endured major disruption from the notorious site'. DEFRA also said the location has caused 'misery for residents', which is why the government, working alongside Wigan Council, intervened to clear it up.
Investigation and arrests
The government confirmed that the Environment Agency is pursuing those responsible for the dumping, with five arrests made during the investigation. It stated that the arrests came after Andy Burnham's announcement of a crackdown on waste crime, with the government and Environment Agency collaborating to ensure serious, organised criminal gangs have nowhere to hide.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "No community should have to live with the misery that illegal waste sites like this in Wigan inflict on their everyday lives.
"This government is taking decisive action to put an end to waste crime, and this major clean-up is an important step in putting things right for local people.
"By putting more officers on the frontline and using drones, we will find the thugs responsible for this heinous crime and make sure they face the consequences."
Community response and next steps
Leader of Wigan Council, Nazia Rehman, said: "This local community has had to put up with this illegal waste site for too long, and the unacceptable impact it has had on their lives.
"I want to thank everyone who has campaigned tirelessly to get us to this point and this is a really important milestone, with waste removal now underway.
"We will be working to keep our communities' voice at the heart of this process as the waste is removed, and this isn't the end. We want to continue engaging with local residents about how we can ensure a cleaner, safer future for the area once waste is completely removed from the site."
Caroline Berry, area environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We've made a number of arrests in connection with the ongoing investigation, and our focus remains on bringing those responsible for this atrocious crime to justice.
"Removing the waste is a major milestone, but it is not the end of the journey. We will work closely with the council on the long-term future of the site once the clearance is complete."
The Environment Agency is appealing for anyone with information that could assist the Bolton House Road investigation to contact the 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060. Alternatively, members of the public can report it anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via their website.
