When Ken Clarke, John Major's last chancellor, imposed his landfill tax, he was warned that it could lead to illegal dumping. However, even his 1996 critics would have been surprised by the size of the illegal industry which is thriving through unapproved disposal of refuse.
It has taken the deathbed confession, in a remote corner of the kingdom, of a pawn in the game to expose the extent of the scandal. National parks are not safe from the blight. If you have not been following the story on Radio 4, or cannot be bothered with podcasts, please tune into the omnibus edition of Buried at 9 p.m. on this Friday and the next.
Landfill tax is not the only cause of this racket. There are unscrupulous operators who have dangerous material on their hands who, rather than pay what is necessary for its safe disposal, will have it dumped illegally. Ideally, enforcement of the law has to be tightened, but at least the government could look at the implications of the landfill tax.
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