Crews have begun clearing the Bolton House Road waste site in Wigan, England, the UK environment department announced November 10. The government-funded operation is expected to remove roughly 18,000 tonnes of household and commercial waste.

The removal plan calls for up to 25 lorry loads a day, with completion expected in spring 2027. Those figures describe the intended pace and timetable. A fire at the site in summer 2025 prompted a nearby school to close as a precaution, according to the department.

The Environment Agency says five arrests have been made in the investigation into the dumping. The removal work addresses the waste already on the ground while that investigation continues. The agency says it will work with the council on the site’s longer-term future after clearance.