A SITE operated by two skip hire firms has been raided by police for allegedly carrying out illegal activities involving 50,000 tonnes of waste.

On Tuesday, the waste crime taskforce, the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), conducted a raid in the Meadow Lane Industrial area of Great Harwood as it continues to crack down on serious and organised waste crime across the country.

Along with police, JUWC enforcement officers gathered photographic evidence of the large-scale waste operation, which included the handling and storage of scrap metal, the land filling of mixed waste, and illegal burning.

Officers said an estimated 50,000 tonnes of waste had been landfilled at the site and a number of skips containing mixed household and business waste were also found.

A spokesperson for the JUWC said: “We are dedicated to clamping down on serious and organised waste crime.

“By working collaboratively with a wide range of enforcement agencies, our vital work disrupts criminality and ensures those responsible are held to account.

“Our previous order to cease waste operations on this site was ignored, and we have therefore taken the necessary enforcement action.

“We will continue to take action against the operators of this site until the activity has ceased or is being carried out in compliance with the law.”

Neither the police nor the Environment Agency confirmed details of the exact location of the site, or the names of the skip hire firms involved.

However, on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "The raid took place on the Meadow Lane Industrial Area.

"No arrests were made relating to the raid."

Environment Agency officers said everybody has a legal duty to ensure the waste they produce is taken away by registered waste carriers and that waste is only taken to authorised sites for treatment or disposal.

Residents should therefore make sure any local skip hire firm they use has the necessary permits.

The government estimates that waste crime costs the economy in England alone around £600 million a year.

People can check if a waste business is genuine by contacting the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 or by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk, or online at www.gov.uk/ea.