The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency has warned criminals who dumped containers from lorries full of rubbish in Lanarkshire that they are working to find them.

Two vehicles were dumped in the Netherton Industrial Estate in Wishaw in April and are believed to be part of a “growing waste problem”.

Now SEPA officials say their investigations into the source of the trailers are continuing.

A written message was attached to one of the Netherton trailers, advising that they had not been dropped and to call Peter Brady.

Wishaw’s advisor, Bob Burgess, tried to call the number, but he didn’t ring. The invisible Man .

He told Lanarkshire Live: “As someone who remembers The invisible Man , I realized they had just made a mess.

SEPA is working alongside partners through the Serious and Organized Crime Taskforce (SOCT) and the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) to tackle the problem in Scotland.

A total of seven trailers have been found abandoned on the center belt, including six in the past eight months.

The environmental agency asks the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious vehicles and activities.

Jennifer Shearer, SEPA Enforcement Manager, told us: “Unfortunately, this activity continued during the pandemic.

“This type of crime has a real impact on local communities, legitimate businesses and public agencies that strive to deal with it.

“We know criminals are inventive and will find new ways to break the law and make money – but Scottish law enforcement agencies are also inventive.”

Trailers full of trash have also been dumped at roadsides and at industrial sites in England in recent months.

SEPA has been following this growing trend across the UK since last year.

SOCT’s Robert Steenson said: “This type of illegal dumping not only costs taxpayers huge sums of money to clean up, but poses a serious threat to the environment and our communities.

“These poorly maintained trailers also circulate on public roads before being dumped and therefore create a dangerous risk for other road users.

“Officials have absolutely no respect for the people living in the areas where these trailers are being dumped and I urge anyone with information to contact SEPA or the Scottish Police immediately.

“This type of waste-related crime has unfortunately become more prevalent across the country and is often linked to organized crime groups who use it as a means of earning money to fund their other criminal activities.

“This undermines legitimate disposal companies and poses a very serious risk to public safety.”

Vehicle or land owners can end up incurring considerable costs to have waste removed and disposed of legally.

Task Force Chairman Keith Brown added: “SOCT partners will use all means at their disposal to disrupt this crime, but we need the public’s help.

“Everyone needs to make sure their waste is disposed of properly and legally and we also urge members of the public who see evidence of these crimes to report it. If you see something, say something. “

Anyone who may have information on truck trailers, however important it may seem, is invited to contact SEPA. Likewise, if they see any suspicious trailers left by the side of the road or in isolated areas, they should report it to the SEPA 24 hour anti-pollution line using the online form or by calling 0800 80 70. 60.

** Don’t miss the latest Lanarkshire titles. Subscribe to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Do not hesitate to leave us a like and to share!