Organised criminal gangs that fly tip and dispose of waste illegally on an industrial scale are to be targeted in a Government clampdown launched today.

The move is intended to tackle the 850 new illegal waste sites discovered each year that are estimated to cost the taxpayer more than £600 million annually.

A Home Office study found that criminal networks are using illegal waste management operations, including running huge waste sites, as a cover for crimes such as money laundering, human trafficking, fraud and the supply of drugs and firearms.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, said: “Organised criminals running illegal waste dumps and fly-tipping are blighting local communities. They cost our economy vast amounts of money, pollute our environment and harm our wildlife.

“We must crack-down on these criminals who have no regard for the impact they have on people’s lives. The time is right for us to look at how we can best tackle these antisocial and inexcusable crimes”.