More illegal waste dumping sites have been closed in Kent in the last year than anywhere else in England and Wales, it's been revealed.

A crackdown has led to 131 illegal sites being shut where waste was stored, treated and discarded.

Joint operations involving the Environment Agency and Kent police between April 2012 and March 2013 found over a quarter of the locations were acting as ‘transfer stations’, where junk was stockpiled before being dumped.

Rob Wise, environment manager from the Environment Agency said: “It can range from household waste, paper, metal and plastic to cars, anything people discard.”

“Waste crime is a serious offence and comes with tough penalties. We are working hard to clamp down on it.”

In February this year, three Kent waste firms, including a director, were fined £233,670 after pleading guilty to charges relating to waste being deposited on golf courses and farms in Kent and East Sussex.

The Environment Agency is making cases like this a top priority in its fight across the county as they pose not only a risk to the environment and people's health but can also damage businesses in Kent.

“There’s a lot of money in waste disposal and that attracts unscrupulous operators.”

“People who handle waste material are required to have an environmental permit to protect the environment and people from the activity.”

“Where people are storing and stockpiling waste material and don’t have a permit, it poses a risk and is considered an illegal site, that activity detracts business from legitimate operators.”

“There’s a lot of money in waste disposal and that attracts unscrupulous operators” -Rob Wise, the Environment Agency

“There is a high density of people, we are close to London, there are good transport links, so it is attractive' We generate a lot of waste so you would expect there to be potential for people to operate illegally.”

Despite the crime team closing down the highest number of illegitimate locations in England and Wales, 40 illegal waste sites still remain across Kent and Medway, with new sites reported every week.

He added: “We are delighted but we still recognise that more needs to be done and we are working hard to continue that.”

“It is a priority for us to close more of these sites down in the coming year because it affects people and businesses.”

Illegal waste sites around Kent can be reported to the Environment Agency via its hotline – 0800 807060.