Politics · 20 August 2026

AI drones to hunt illegal dumpers as taxpayers fund 22,000-tonne waste cleanup

The prime minister is visiting Yorkshire to launch the scheme, which targets three problem locations holding about 22,000 tonnes of waste. Authorities will increase fines for offenders and deploy drones powered by artificial intelligence to catch criminal gangs in the act. Andy Burnham announced this national funding effort after a recent BBC investigation discovered eleven massive sites scattered across the country.

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