The farmer, who wants to remain anonymous, estimates that more than 40 lorry loads of rubbish were left on his arable farm outside St Albans over the course of three nights, leading to concerns about the financial and environmental impact.
The waste included asbestos, cannabis waste, timber and office furniture, and has ruined a patch of land set aside to provide food for farmland birds.
Despite being the victim of the crime, the farmer believes he could be faced with a bill of more than £40,000.
The farmer believes it could cost him £40,000 to clear the waste. (Image: NFU)
“It is just devastating,” he said.
“This is not covered by insurance and there is just no way that I am going to be able to pay this – I don’t know what I am going to do.
“There is a week’s work here to clear it all as well. I have fly-tipping here every week, but I’ve never had it on this scale.
“Farming is hard enough at the moment, and I know many other farmers in Hertfordshire who have had industrial scale fly-tips on their land.
“The situation is getting worse and it disrupts our ability to produce food and care for the countryside.”
The waste included asbestos, cannabis waste, timber and office furniture. (Image: NFU)
The National Farmers Union is calling for an urgent meeting with the leaders of all of Hertfordshire’s district councils, as well as working closely with Hertfordshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency.
It is also applying for funding for the farmer through the PCC’s Fly-tipping Fund, which is used to help victims of the crime.
The NFU has written to St Albans MP and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper to raise awareness of the incident.
NFU County Adviser for Hertfordshire Josh Redford said: “This is another shocking incident of fly-tipping, which is becoming all too common in Hertfordshire.
“The NFU is taking a very proactive approach to address this and is working closely with local authorities and stakeholders.
The NFU is calling for action on fly-tipping in Hertfordshire. (Image: NFU)
“We are calling for an urgent meeting with all district council leaders in Hertfordshire as the next step and we are determined to fight for our members and ensure the people responsible are brought to justice, at the same time deterring others from carrying out this serious and damaging crime.”
Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, added: “Fly-tipping on this scale is a disgrace. It has a huge impact on our countryside and can be financially devastating for victims.
“While local councils have the lead responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of fly-tippers, the police will support councils and the Environment Agency with intelligence capabilities, and this collaborative approach is essential.
“Fly-tips of this magnitude are often linked to organised crime gangs, who profit significantly from these illegal activities. I fully support the maximum possible sentences being imposed on offenders when they are brought before the courts.
“To support the clean-up of this site and help prevent future incidents, I am exploring whether this incident is eligible for support through the Fly-Tipping Fund operated by my office.”