O pădure protejată pentru plantele sale rare, îngropată sub 40.000 de tone de gunoaie. Refacerea ar putea dura decenii

A protected forest in England was illegally used as a dump, with nearly 40,000 tons of waste abandoned by criminal groups. The cleanup took 15 months and cost taxpayers £15 million. Hoads Wood, near Ashford, is a site of special scientific interest, home to rare plants and wildlife. The operation, led by the Environment Agency, involved transporting waste to a licensed facility in Essex. Local residents reported daily truckloads of waste during peak illegal dumping. Although the cleanup is complete, concerns remain about potential future illegal activities. Experts warn that the forest's ecosystem has been severely impacted, and recovery may take decades. The British government estimates illegal waste management costs the country over £1 billion annually, with ongoing investigations into those responsible for the dumping.