The EA (Environment Agency) is working in partnership with local police, the NFU, the police and other organisations to tackle these criminals.
Offenders are saving thousands of pounds in disposal costs whilst leaving landowners facing large bills to clear each load.
Criminals are forcing their way past locked gates to dump shredded waste on carefully selected sites including farmers' tracks and fields, lanes, industrial land, parkland and laybys.
EA Environment Officer Peter Lennard said: “We are asking farmers and landowners to stay vigilant this winter, particularly with darker evenings. We advise they carry out regular inspections of their land, identify hidden spots where heavy goods vehicles can gain easy access, and put in roadblocks and CCTV cameras where possible.”
NFU East Regional Board Vice-chair George Gittus said: "The dumping of waste is a huge issue across the region, damaging the environment and seriously disrupting farmers’ work. Industrial scale incidents can cost individual farmers tens of thousands of pounds in clear-up costs”.
The EA is asking farmers and landowners to report any suspicious activity including more lorry movements than expected for a business, activities on site at strange hours of the day and night, and evidence of unusual odours and/or pests.
Anyone who has information about illegal waste activity should contact the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060.