The Environment Agency has revealed illegal waste hot spots across England.
A series of heat maps has shown the areas with the highest number of reports, which presents places of suspected waste crime from carrying, dumping or burning.
Published for the first time last year, three annual reports are part of the Environment Agency’s 10 point plan to combat illegal dumping.
In 2025, the organisation received 10,238 reports which the West Midlands led with 1542, followed by Yorkshire where there were a total of 1068 reports.
Work has began to clean up some of the worst sites in Bradford and the Mayor of West Yorkshire will be one of the first to take on the region-led approach to tackle waste crime.
Environment Secretary, Dame Angela Eagle, said: “For too long waste crime has blighted our towns, cities and countryside.
“These heatmaps shine a light on the scale of the problem and how it has been left to fester. That’s why we are cracking down on the criminals behind it and giving the Environment Agency the tools it needs to go further and faster.”
As part of the Prime Minister’s crackdown on waste crime, more Environment Agency staff will be sent to the front lines to tackle the issue as multiple sites have already been shut down and cleared.
People are advised to dispose of waste correctly, check waste carriers are registered before hiring a skip company and report suspected illegal activity anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
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