Illegal Dump Next to M25 to Finally Close After Lorry Tipping Waste Gets Stuck in Mud
A massive illegal waste dump stretching 300 meters alongside the M25 motorway outside Epping, Essex, is set to be permanently closed on Thursday, following a decisive court ruling. The Environment Agency secured a restriction order from Barkingside Magistrates Court, citing serious harm to human health and significant fire hazards as primary reasons for the shutdown.
Court Order and Landowner Claims
The court heard that the registered landowner, Patrick Culligan, purchased the land in October 2003 for £77,000. In an email to the Environment Agency, Culligan denied ownership of the site and refuted allegations of illegal dumping, though he did not object to the restriction order. The order will prohibit all access to the site near Stapleford Tawney, with exceptions only for emergency services, utility workers, and Environment Agency staff.
Environmental and Safety Concerns
Evidence presented in court revealed smoking within the waste piles, indicating a potential for combustion, compounded by a major mains gas pipe buried beneath the site. Satellite imagery obtained by Sky News showed the seven-acre site completely green in October 2024, but within months, it was filled several meters deep with processed building and domestic waste. This rubbish has been tumbling into a small tributary that feeds the River Roding, ultimately flowing into the River Thames, raising alarms about water contamination.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
The Environment Agency began investigating the site in February 2025, but illegal dumping continued until early February 2026. A local resident alerted authorities after spotting a lorry stuck in mud while dumping waste on February 6, prompting a 999 call. Essex Police subsequently arrested a 55-year-old from Horley, Surrey, and a 25-year-old from Mullaghbawn, County Armagh, seizing the lorry, two mobile phones, and a laptop as evidence.
Political and Public Reaction
Local MP Alex Burghart expressed outrage, stating that the situation is completely disgraceful and that the Environment Agency has very serious questions to answer. He emphasized that something has gone badly wrong in this case, highlighting the need for accountability. Barry Russell from the Environment Agency acknowledged public anger over waste crime, praising the quick response from Essex Police and the resident who reported the incident, noting that environmental crime teams are using the arrests to further investigate the illegal dump.
The closure marks a critical step in addressing waste crime in the region, but concerns linger over the environmental damage and the taxpayer-funded cleanup that may follow.
