Hoads Wood illegal waste "supersite" finally cleared at £15m cost
A massive illegal waste dump in Hoads Wood, Kent, has been cleared at a cost of £15 million to taxpayers. While the site is now restored, local campaigners and environmental groups fear that the area remains vulnerable to future criminal dumping.
Why it matters
It underscores the high financial and environmental costs of waste crime and the challenges of protecting protected natural sites.
Image source, Getty Images/BBC/Rachel Price Image caption, The Hoads Wood site before and after it was cleared of nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste
The clearance of a notorious illegal waste "supersite" in Kent has been completed after 15 months at a cost of £15m to the taxpayer.
The dump at Hoads Wood, near Ashford, which is on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) known for rare plants and wildlife, was targeted by criminals who dumped nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste over six months in 2023.
It was the first supersite in England to have central government money spent on its clear-up, with work at two other sites bringing the total taxpayer's bill to £26m.
The government said the completion of works on Friday showed "just how serious" it was about tackling waste crime and restoring affected countryside.
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