Waste Crime Crackdown: New Drone Unit and £1.4m Fine for Illegal Dumping Kingpin

A new 33-strong drone unit is being deployed to investigate illegal waste dumping across England, as the government steps up its efforts to tackle a problem costing the UK economy £1 billion annually. The move comes as Varun Datta, 36, of London, was ordered to pay £1.4 million after being convicted of leading a major waste crime gang.

Illegal Dumping Operation Uncovered

Varun Datta was responsible for the organized illegal dumping of over 4,275 tonnes of mostly municipal waste at 16 sites across England, including a historic manor house and a nature reserve in Lancashire. He was described as a “prolific waste criminal” by authorities. The Environment Agency uncovered the network of illegal dumping sites.

Sentencing and Financial Penalties

At Birmingham Crown Court last Friday, Datta received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £1.1 million, representing the financial benefit derived from his crimes, £100,000 in compensation to landowners affected by the illegal dumping, and £200,000 to cover prosecution costs. Sky News reported on the sentencing.

New Drone Technology to Combat Waste Crime

The government announced the introduction of a 33-strong drone team to enhance the investigation of illegal waste dumping. Some of these drones will be equipped with light detection and ranging (lidar) technology, enabling the creation of detailed maps of illegal waste sites. The government press release detailed the new measures.

Increased Enforcement Capacity

The Environment Agency has also expanded its joint investigations unit to 20 specialists, demonstrating a commitment to tackling increasingly sophisticated organized criminal activity in the waste sector. Phil Davies, head of the joint unit for waste crime, stated that the agency is adopting new technologies and strengthening partnerships to combat waste crime effectively. Let’s Recycle provided further details on the case.

Details of the Illegal Dumping

Datta operated as a registered waste broker through his company, Atkins Recycling Ltd, since 2015. He falsely claimed that waste handled by his company was being sent to a legal site near Sheffield, but instead diverted the loads to unlicensed dumps across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Kent, Surrey, Rutland, and Middlesbrough. The waste was illegally dumped at locations including Middleton nature reserve and Rhyddings Mill in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, and Westwood business park in Margate, Kent.

Additional Convictions

Mohammed Saraji Bashir, 45, of Peterborough, received a suspended four-month prison sentence, 30 days of rehabilitation, and 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited at three sites. Robert William McAllister, 55, of Northwood, London, was fined £750 for failing to comply with waste duty of care regulations. Two further suspects remain at large.

Impact on Landowners and the Environment

Judge Paul Farrer KC noted that the illegal dumping caused localized adverse effects on air quality, with “smell and flies” being common features at the sites. Landowners were forced to incur substantial costs to remove the illegally deposited waste. Part of the £100,000 compensation ordered by the court will be used to restore Middleton nature reserve.