More than 66,000 tonnes tonnes of illegally dumped waste posing a fire hazard have been cleared from a storage site in Warrington.

This second round of funding builds on the government’s Litter Strategy for England and seeks innovative solutions to tackle littering.

45 containers of waste are being sent back to the UK after being intercepted by officials, while three firms are under criminal investigation amid reports of involvement with the ‘trash mafia’.

The Basel Action Network has called for app-based bike hire companies to ensure they have proper recycling policies in place after bikes were found dumped in China and the USA.

The group, made up of representatives from the ESA, CIWM and UROC, has set out its recommendations for the government in advance of the publication of its Resources and Waste Strategy.

The average fine against a company has risen from £23,731 in 2013/14 to £147,575 in 2017/18.

The Chinese Government has intercepted huge amounts of waste in the first half of 2018 as its crackdown on smuggling continues.

The regulator has called for vigilance amongst landlords as criminals are renting properties in order to dispose of illegal waste.

The council says the 13 new vehicles will boost efficiency amid drives to increase the area’s waste and recycling productivity.

A construction company has been ordered to pay £100,000 in fines and prosecution costs after it was found guilty of dumping waste on the habitat of a protected species of wildlife.