The Environment Agency has revoked the environmental permit held by DS Environmental Services in Wolverhampton, halting operations at a site that had been licensed to handle a range of hazardous waste materials.
The permit had allowed the facility to import, transfer and treat hazardous waste, as well as store materials including asbestos, batteries, cable and waste electrical and electronic equipment. The Environment Agency issued notice to revoke the licence on 28 May 2026, with the revocation taking effect on 30 June 2026. Since that date, the site has not been permitted to accept any waste.
According to the Environment Agency, there had been a history of non-compliance at the facility. This included failing to operate in line with a written management system and accepting waste that was not authorised under the terms of the permit.
The regulator said the revocation followed sustained intervention and a series of enforcement actions in response to poor performance at the site. It added that it had worked closely with partner organisations throughout its regulatory response to ensure that risks to the environment and local communities were appropriately managed.
Tom Mountford, Waste Team Leader for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands, said the organisation was committed to protecting communities and the environment by taking robust action against operators who fail to meet their environmental obligations.
"Revoking permits is one of the enforcement tools available to us where there are serious and persistent concerns about compliance and environmental risk," Mountford said.
He added that the Environment Agency continues to prioritise action against poor-performing waste sites, with a focus on reducing environmental harm, tackling waste crime, and ensuring responsible operators are held to the standards expected by the industry.
The Environment Agency said the action aligns with its 10-Point Plan for Waste Crime, which includes commitments to take faster and more targeted enforcement action against operators who consistently fail to meet the standards required under their environmental permits.
The agency has urged members of the public to report any suspected illegal waste activity through its 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The case forms part of a broader pattern of regulatory scrutiny of waste sites across England, as the Environment Agency seeks to strengthen oversight of an industry in which illegal or non-compliant operations can pose risks to public health and the environment, particularly where hazardous materials such as asbestos and electrical waste are involved.
