The Environment Agency announced that two men were arrested on 20 January 2026 as part of a major investigation into illegal waste and recycling fraud. The arrests took place in Greater Manchester and were carried out as part of a joint operation involving the Environment Agency and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).
Industry and news reporting links the wider investigation to an alleged Packaging Export Recovery Note (PERN) fraud worth around £747,000. The EA’s statement described the action as part of a large-scale, active investigation into waste crime, fraud and money laundering; after being interviewed the two suspects were released pending further investigation.
The operation highlights a nationwide escalation in organised waste crime, which regulators say increasingly involves criminal networks moving waste across regional boundaries. That national footprint can affect local areas such as Washington in Tyne and Wear, where Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police have been stepping up enforcement against fly-tipping and related organised activity.
To help detect and deter fly-tipping, Sunderland City Council has deployed drones to assist investigations and gather aerial evidence. The council says the drones make investigations more efficient; Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer Andy Proudlock is a qualified UAS pilot and the council has used multi-agency activity, including its SARA (Sunderland Anti-Social Behaviour and Resilience Area) partnership with Northumbria Police, to target hotspots and seize vehicles suspected of being used for fly-tipping.
The two men arrested are aged 44 and 49. They were released pending further investigation. If charged and convicted of the most serious offences related to large-scale waste crime, those involved can face significant penalties, including unlimited fines and possible custodial sentences.
From October 2026, the UK’s Digital Waste Tracking service will become mandatory for permitted/licensed waste receiving sites as part of a phased rollout intended to make fraudulent paperwork and unlawful waste movements harder to perpetrate.
Residents who see suspicious activity or large lorries dumping waste can report it via the Sunderland City Council ‘Report Fly-tipping’ page. For large-scale or industrial dumping, people should report incidents to the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (and can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111).
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