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Work to clear 18,000 tonnes of waste from notorious site in Wigan begins
Specialist teams will remove up to 25 lorry loads a day as the £4.8 million cleanup aims to end disruption from the illegal dump.
Cleanup crews have begun removing around 18,000 tonnes of illegal waste from Bolton House Road in Wigan, with The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stating the operation will "bring relief to a community that has endured major disruption from the notorious site."
Piled up during early 2025, the "ocean of rubbish" has cost around £4.8m to clean up; the site in Andy Burnham's Makerfield constituency previously forced local school closures after a July 2025 fire emitting dangerous fumes.
Specialist removal teams aim to clear up to 25 lorry loads of commercial and household waste daily, with contractor Acumen Waste Services Ltd managing operations expected to complete by spring 2027.
Leader of Wigan Council Nazia Rehman stated the council will "keep our communities' voice at the heart of this process" as waste is removed, pledging continued resident engagement about the site's long-term future.
Five arrests have been made as the Environment Agency hunts those responsible for the "appalling" dumping; the public can report information via a 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.