GREEN chiefs are investigating more than 50 sites that have been used as illegal dumps, a report has revealed.

Builder’s rubble, household waste and toxic chemicals are among the rubbish dumped across the county by flytippers.

It comes after new figures show the Environment Agency has failed to meet its target for clamping down on unlicensed dumps, gaining a “red” status – its lowest performance measure.

Illegal waste dumps often involve unlicensed gangs collecting and burying chemicals allowing them to spill into rivers, spoil air quality by burning materials and allow used cars and old tyres to pile up on farmland without proper pollution controls.

It was estimated in 2013 that they cost legitimate waste companies around £1 billion a year by undercutting their prices.

One case in Hampshire involved piles of soil and broken concrete being piled up near the sliproad at junction 12 of the M3 at Chandler’s Ford on August 12.

Michael Doran, 26, from Hayes in west London, was found guilty of depositing rubbish within 15ft of the centre of a highway and was ordered by Southampton Magistrates’ Court to pay £1,000 in costs and fines.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency confirm they are investigating household and garden waste which was alleged to have been dumped at Beech Crescent in Hythe, building waste at Outlands Lane in Curdridge and another site in Stoneham Lane in Eastleigh.

A spokesman said: “We are currently investigating more than 50 sites in Hampshire, but we welcome any further information from members of the public where they think potentially illegal waste activity is taking place.

“We set ambitious targets to close illegal waste sites. In 2014-15, we stopped illegal waste activity at 871 sites. The number of illegal waste sites is constantly changing as we work to stop them from operating.

“Some of the sites we deal with are connected with serious, organised crime and we work with HM Revenue and Customs, the police and others to investigate and deal with what is often a complex web of activities. We have seen an increase in illegal waste sites in South East England which has impacted on the target.

“This part of the country has a high population density and creates a significant amount of waste. Our specialist crime unit is using intelligence to actively track and prosecute the criminals involved.”

• Anyone with any information about an illegal waste site are asked to contact the Environment Agency’s 24 hour hotline on 0800 807060 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.