RAMSGATE – The Environment Agency (EA) has officially padlocked the gates on a major illegal waste operation at the Haine Industrial Estate.
Following a wave of public complaints regarding shredded, “baled” waste, officials secured a restriction order at Margate Magistrates Court on March 20, 2026, bringing all activity at Units 26 and 27 on Leigh Road to a grinding halt.
To ensure the site remains dormant, the EA didn’t just stop at legal paperwork; they’ve fortified the perimeter with concrete barriers and formal warning notices. Under the new court order, anyone attempting to enter the site or tamper with the barriers faces criminal prosecution.
This move isn’t an isolated incident. Environment Manager Matt Higginson noted that the Ramsgate closure is the latest win for the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan. The agency is currently on a “crackdown streak,” having recently shuttered similar illicit operations in Eastchurch, Minster, and Ashford.
“We are moving from observation to immediate intervention,” said Higginson. “By equipping regulators with enhanced powers, we are protecting local communities from the environmental scars left by illegal tipping.”
The EA is leaning heavily on “boots on the ground”—the public—to spot these sites before they grow. If you see suspicious hauling or smell something off, you can report it via the EA 24-Hour Hotline at 0800 80 70 60 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.