NRW warns landowners over illegal operators dumping waste

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has asked land owners and farm owners to take care should they receive requests to store waste on their land.

The request follows recent incidents where farmers across Wales have unwittingly accepted waste for temporary storage – something NRW say is a growing problem driven by criminal gangs.

The type of waste can vary a lot, from partially shredded plastics and materials, to mattresses and even soil or building material.

NRW have reminded Landowners that storage of waste is tightly regulated, and that environmental permits are required to store large quantities of waste – further, any waste exemptions have strict conditions at to the type and amount of waste that can be stored.

Euros Jones, North West Wales Operations Manager for NRW explains:

“If individuals or companies offer baled waste to farmers to store, supposedly on a temporary basis, it is vital they check that the right permissions are in place. Waste exemption rules can be checked on our website.

“Landowners may let land in good faith to waste operators, but it is vital they do so with their eyes wide open.

“There are unscrupulous operators looking to dump waste anywhere they can. The land owner is often left with significant quantities of waste, which is potentially damaging to the environment, and a large bill to remove it legally.  

“Anyone approached to store baled or any other type of waste on their land should report it to us immediately on 03000 65 3000.”

NRW is carrying out ongoing investigations into several sites across Wales.