Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished a blaze at a suspected illegal waste dump close to the River Mersey in Greater Manchester on Monday, after crews were called to woodland near the Carrington Spur at 11:30 BST. Fire crews prevented the fire from spreading, though parts of the site that had been smouldering reignited before being brought fully under control.
The site, hidden in woodland near the river, had reportedly been growing for some time, with residents describing a mix of household, agricultural and construction waste dumped there.
What was burning at the site?
The fire consumed a range of dumped materials, including several old mattresses, a fridge freezer, builders' waste, car tyres, a cement mixer and wood panelling. Firefighters said parts of the waste had been smouldering in multiple locations before flames broke out.
Helen Carr, 43, from Flixton, who regularly walks her dogs in the woodland, said she had long been concerned about what was being dumped at the site.
"The smell is absolutely acrid and what I really worry about is things like builders' waste setting on fire, then releasing all sorts of chemicals into the air."
"Its criminal. There is just no need for people to be dumping waste like this, in this day and age. This is just sheer greed and laziness."
She added that the nature of the waste had changed over time.
"The type of rubbish being dumped used to be agricultural waste, but it now involves builders waste alongside household waste, with things like mattresses and fridge freezers."
"The waste has just being growing and growing and getting out of control."
Had the dumping been reported before?
Yes. In July, Ms Carr reported the waste to the Environment Agency, which confirmed it was aware of the site and had referred the case to its Area Enforcement Team. In an email to Ms Carr, the agency said it took illegal waste offences seriously and would use its powers to investigate and, where appropriate, take enforcement action against those responsible.
Laura Clinton, who also walks her dogs near the river in Ashton Woods, said she had witnessed the dumping firsthand.
"On several occasions, I've seen lorries coming here and dumping waste."
"Its appalling and something needs to be done about it."
How are the council and Environment Agency responding?
A Trafford Council spokesperson said the authority was aware of the fire on private land and was supporting Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in its response, adding that fire was just one of the risks associated with unauthorised tipping and that the council would work with partners to protect the environment and keep communities safe.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said the organisation shared the public's disgust at the case and would do everything in its power to bring those responsible to justice, confirming a criminal investigation was under way in cooperation with the local council and other organisations.
Is this part of a wider problem?
Earlier this year, reporting found hundreds of illegal waste dumps operating across England, including at least 11 so-called "super sites" holding tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish, most located in countryside areas on land intended for agricultural use. Police have said many of these operations are run by organised crime gangs who undercut legitimate waste firms by charging less to bury or dispose of rubbish.
In a related case, four men aged 24, 35, 41 and 59 from Leeds, Liverpool and Wigan were arrested on 4 August 2026 over illegal dumping at a separate major Greater Manchester waste site on Bolton House Road in Wigan, which the Environment Agency has linked to suspected environmental, fraud and money-laundering offences, according to a government announcement. That site has been described by the Telegraph as a two-acre tip containing more than 25,000 tonnes of rubbish situated close to homes and a primary school.
Separately, the government announced on 20 March 2026 that taxpayers would fund the cleanup of three major illegal waste dumps in England totalling 48,000 tonnes under a new waste crime action plan, a move residents welcomed even as campaigners called for stronger measures to prevent further dumping, as reported in our earlier coverage. Earlier this year, a prolific waste criminal was also ordered to pay £1.2m in compensation for illegally dumping more than 4,000 tonnes of waste across England.
What happens next?
The Environment Agency has said it will continue investigating the Carrington site and take enforcement action where appropriate against those responsible. The agency has also asked members of the public to report suspicious waste activity through its incident hotline as its separate investigation into the Wigan site continues, according to the government's statement.
Key Facts
- Fire crews were called to the suspected illegal dump near the Carrington Spur at 11:30 BST on Monday.
- Burned materials included mattresses, a fridge freezer, builders' waste, tyres, a cement mixer and wood panelling.
- The Environment Agency confirmed a criminal investigation into the Carrington site is under way.
- Four men were arrested on 4 August 2026 in connection with a separate 25,000-tonne illegal dump in Wigan.
- The government pledged in March 2026 to fund cleanup of 48,000 tonnes of illegal waste at three major English sites.
