The incidents, which have happened over the last few weeks, have all occurred in the Derby and Nottingham areas.
Four incidents have occurred on the A50 near HMP Foston, and one between Sudbury and Doveridge, south-west of Derby.
Two others have occurred on opposite carriageways on the A38, north of Burton-upon-Trent, and one on the southbound carriageway of the A38 at Stretton, Burton-upon-Trent. There has also been two on the northbound A453 near Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, south of Nottingham.
The trailers have been dumped in laybys on busy dual carriageways. Some of them contain loose shredded waste, whilst some contain baled waste. Some have also had their tops cut off to make them easier to fill.
Each trailer can hold about 24 tonnes of waste. The trailers range in design and include old refrigerated units and rigid ambient units.
Further afield, though possibly linked to the Derby-Nottingham incidents, a trailer containing baled waste was dumped in a layby on the westbound A6 at Chapel-en-le-Frith. This happened in early October.
Around the end of October, a refrigerated trailer containing waste was also dumped in a layby on the southbound A38 London Road at Weeford, Lichfield in Staffordshire.
‘Blight on our communities’
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “This kind of waste crime is a blight on our communities, the environment and is costly to the taxpayer who foots the bill to dispose of the trailers and the waste.
“At present, the origin of the waste is unknown and the Environment Agency is investigating to identify the site or sites and those responsible.
“The incidents could well be linked and be orchestrated by an organised crime group.”
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