CCTV Footage Sought in Lancashire Waste Dumping Incident

Authorities are currently investigating the unlawful disposal of approximately 75 tonnes of mixed commercial and household waste at a mill yard in the town of Nelson. This incident has raised considerable concern among local residents and environmental officials alike.

Suspect Description and Investigation Progress

The Environment Agency is keen to identify a man who has been captured on CCTV footage in connection with this case. He is described as a white male, roughly 5ft 9in tall and of a heavy build, with distinctive red hair and a beard. The Agency believes that the disposal of the waste was not only intentional but also strategically planned, as evidenced by the use of a wagon with cloned vehicle registration plates—a tactic often employed to evade law enforcement.

During the course of the investigation, officials have made significant progress, following several leads and interviewing a person of interest regarding the incident. The unlawful dumping occurred over the course of a single afternoon and into the evening, with five separate deposits made.

Impact on the Community and Urgent Appeal for Information

John Neville, the Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, has expressed serious concerns about the implications of this deliberate act. He stated, “This was a deliberate dumping of waste, and we believe it was planned using cloned number plates to help evade detection. The landowner is now faced with substantial clean-up costs, and the mill is situated in a residential area next to a canal, meaning local residents are forced to endure the sight of this waste daily.”

The clean-up operation, necessitated by the illegal dumping that took place on Sunday, 15 February 2026, between 2pm and 6pm, is expected to cost the landowner thousands of pounds. The waste needs to be removed and disposed of properly at a licensed waste facility to mitigate further environmental impact.

How to Report Information

The Environment Agency is urging anyone who may recognise the individual in the CCTV images or who has any information regarding this incident to come forward. Individuals can report information anonymously by contacting the Environment Agency’s incident hotline at 0800 80 70 60 or reaching out to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.

Community involvement is crucial in addressing such environmental crimes, and every piece of information can help bring those responsible to justice.