Council enforcement officers are searching for the culprit, who fly-tipped bags full of meat in the Purbeck area.
People have reported several of these fly-tipping instances to Dorset Council over the past few weeks.
They found white bags full of both cooked and raw meat in East Stoke and Bere Regis.
Rotting meat posed a health hazard
Enforcement officers and a clean-up crew from Wareham were sent out to deal with the mess.
The teams reported that the meat bags were so heavy they required heavy lifting equipment to move.
The meat inside was beginning to rot – which posed a serious health hazard.
Links to abattoirs across the UK
At the fly-tip in East Stoke, inspection officers from Dorset Council Trading Standards found evidence linking the meat to abattoirs in Bedford, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Dorset Council says that slaughterhouse workers are assisting the team with their enquiries.
Local butchers have also been approached to find out if people have recently offered disposal services.
Furthermore, officers are investigating if any premises have closed recently that might have had this type of waste.
“Clearing up something as disgusting as rotting meat”
Councillor Jill Haynes, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, said:
“Dealing with fly-tipped waste is unpleasant at the best of times. But investigating and clearing up something as disgusting as rotting meat is something our employees simply shouldn’t have to do, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped deal with this mess.
“Our enforcement team is now on the case and need your help in helping catch the criminals responsible for dumping the waste.
“If you have any information at all that might help us find whoever was responsible for this fly-tipping, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
“Remember, fly-tipping is a criminal offence, punishable of fines of up to £50,000 – or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a magistrate’s court.
“The offence can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment if convicted in a crown court.”
Report if you have any information
The enforcement officers are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they saw anything suspicious in the last week or two in the following areas of Wareham, East Stoke and Bere Regis:
- Binnegar Lane
- Hyde Road
- Lower Woodbury Crossroads
- Lane End
Anyone with information should go to the tip off webpage, email wasteteam@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305 221040.
