There are a number of farmers and other landowners within the UK who are running illegal and toxic waste sites on their property for enormous financial gain. Local Authorities, NRW, DEFRA and individuals tasked with overseeing environmental negligence issues appear absolutely powerless to stop them mainly due to antiquated laws and inadequate powers of enforcement.

A local farmer was taken to court in November 2021 and found guilty of environmental negligence and fined. It should be borne in mind also that this individual was issued with five separate stop notices by NRW over eighteen months  which he ignored. However, at his trial the farmer was not instructed to dig up and take the hundreds of tons of semi-toxic tons waste to an official site at his own expense for proper disposal. Less than 24 hours after his court case the farmer was also continuing to operate his illegal business and is still doing so to date.

At the highest levels there now appears to be a general apathy and chronic malaise amongst those who should be much more pro-active with this serious issue, which will have an affect on the food chain eventually as the animals ingest more and more of the toxic residue.