Hazardous substances discovered among refuse
An unlawful tip in Ranskill, Nottinghamshire. Remarkable pictures taken from the air reveal approximately 59,000 tonnes of domestic refuse piled up in woodland close to a charming settlement, triggering a criminal inquiry.(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
An illicit Nottinghamshire waste site containing noxious chemicals has become a place where ducks are swimming through streams of refuse.
Nottinghamshire County Council initially identified the tip in the Ranskill area, which held more than 50,000 tonnes of waste, during December 2025 and a criminal investigation into the matter is currently in progress.
A Sky News inquiry recently identified a strong presence of the substance carbon tetrachloride at the location – a chemical associated with cancer and liver harm.
Simon Richardson, a Reform UK councillor representing the adjacent Rampton ward on Bassetlaw District Council, stated that the environmental damage was evident.
He informed the Nottingham Post that the situation was absurd and was affecting the wildlife. He described ducks swimming through streams of refuse as truly dreadful, highlighting the impact on both nearby residents and the natural world, and questioned why nobody had noticed this sooner. Richardson explained that an area of open countryside had become an area of dangerous mixed waste.
The ground where the refuse has been deposited lies separate from the main residential section of Ranskill and is instead situated beyond a sizable industrial zone, with farmland surrounding it.
A directive issued to the landowners in March 2026 by Nottinghamshire County Council instructed them to halt any additional waste being brought to the location and to address the existing problem.
Councillor Andrew McCallum, likewise a Reform UK councillor representing Ranskill on Bassetlaw District Council, described the situation as utterly shocking. He noted that while a criminal inquiry was underway, the key priority was apprehending those responsible and ensuring this did not recur.
Regarding why the tipping went unreported previously, Councillor McCallum considers there was a misunderstanding that lorries travelling to the location were attending for building purposes. The councillor additionally mentioned that he had learned that the individuals who actually deposited the refuse originated from Manchester.
The Environment Agency declared in January 2026 that two men from the Sale and Rochdale areas of Greater Manchester had been detained on suspicion of unlawfully disposing of waste throughout England.
The individuals, aged 44 and 49 at the time, were released while inquiries continue.
The Nottingham Post questioned the Environment Agency regarding whether it could verify a connection between the Manchester pair’s detention and the Ranskill site, however the agency stated it could not provide commentary on an active criminal investigation.
The Nottingham Post understands that the inquiry may require considerable time before a prosecution case capable of succeeding in court can be assembled.
An Environment Agency representative commented that the issue presented by waste crime had escalated and they were dedicating significant effort to combating this damage to surroundings. The representative explained that collaborating with the county council, they had prevented any additional tipping at this location, that a criminal inquiry was now underway, and that they would utilise every available means to identify those accountable and pursue legal action.