A toxic waste dump beside a busy road near Hinckley has been shut down after the council and police halted further dumping. The Environment Agency is now leading the investigation into the case.
An investigation was launched following the discovery of dumped waste on land off the A47 Leicester Road on August 5, 2026. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police acted swiftly to shut the site down and prevent further environmental damage.
Environment Agency leads investigation
The action comes as the Environment Agency steps up its response to suspected waste crime as part of its 10 Point Plan, which includes expanding the use of restriction notices and orders to prevent illegal dumping.
The Environment Agency is appealing for anyone with information, dash cam footage, mobile phone footage or CCTV to get in touch and help with ongoing investigations. It is also calling on the public to be vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity in the region.
Public urged to report suspicious activity
This could involve tipper lorries, skip lorries or articulated lorries entering derelict sites or fields. Illegal waste sites have popped up in busy areas near dual carriageways, motorways, but also on farms and in woodland.
Environment Agency officers across the region are involved in a sustained programme of action to strengthen prevention, improve detection and deliver more consistent enforcement.
Appeal for information
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We are leading the investigation into this case after our partners shut down this site and secured it.
“Waste crime scars communities and the environment and in line with our 10 point plan we’re acting quickly to tackle illegal activity.
“Communities are also our partners in this, acting as our eyes and ears. Reporting information to us as soon as possible means we can take swift action to intervene. If it looks odd or out of place, then report your concerns.”
People can call the Environment Agency’s 24/7 hotline in confidence on 0800 80 70 60 (quoting incident number 02544976) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
