Shocking new figures reveal scale of fly-tipping of hazardous waste in Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw is among the top three worst areas for fly-tipping of hazardous waste within the East Midlands, new figures have revealed.
New data from experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk has revealed how much dumped waste is a public health concern,
All together, there were 100,462 incidents of illegal waste dumping in 2024 to 2025 in the East Midlands, which equates to one taking place every five minutes.
The total number of incidents across Bassetlaw was 1,768, and of this number 42, or 2.38 per cent, included hazardous material.
This area saw one clinical waste dumping incident, 23 that involved asbestos, and 18 involving chemical drums, oil, or fuel.
Only East Lindsey, with 51 hazardous incidents, and West Lindsey with 34, had a higher tally of hazardous incidents per 10,000 people with 3.52 and 3.43 respectively, while Bassetlaw has 3.36.
Every council in the East Midlands recorded at least one incident of hazardous fly-tipping, with Nottingham the least affected, with just one case recorded.
Ranking seventh in England’s hazardous fly-tipping hotspots, the East Midlands saw 1.32 incidents per 10,000 people on average, with around 0.66 per cent of all fly-tipping incidents classed as hazardous waste.
Mark Hall, waste management expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, Nottinghamshire, said: "All illegal waste dumping is damaging to the environment and local community, but hazardous waste is particularly concerning as it contains toxic, persistent, or reactive materials.
"Substances such as asbestos, oils, chemicals, and fuel are not only more toxic but also often require specialist handling and disposal.
"When dumped illegally, they can contaminate soil and water, release harmful particles into the air, and create safety risks for both the public and council workers.
“As hazardous waste disposal can be more expensive and logistically complex, this sometimes leads people to fly-tip this type of waste to cut costs or time.
"Incidents can be down to individuals or linked to rogue waste operators who are paid to remove materials but then instead dispose of them illegally to cut costs and maximise profit.
“If you come across any kind of fly-tipping, keep your distance, don’t disturb it, and immediately report it to the council, who will be able to assess the material and dispose of it appropriately.”