EHDC officers are investigating a fly-tip including tonnes of hazardous asbestos left in a layby near Alton.
Officers estimate there could be as much as 15 tonnes of material to clear from the area on the A31, known as Julie’s layby.
The clear-up alone is expected to cost taxpayers more than £18,000, with the final bill likely to rise. The layby has been closed while specialist contractors carry out the clearance.
The waste, tipped in two piles, each over eight feet high, was reported to us on Tuesday 3 September.
Council officers will examine the material for evidence of where it may have originated. If anyone knows anything about the tip or who may have done it please contact: district-team@easthants.gov.uk or phone 01730 266551.
Cllr Richard Millard, Leader of EHDC, said: “Fly-tipping is a disgraceful crime that wrecks our environment, endangers public health and drains vital resources. Every pound spent clearing up this mess is a pound stolen from essential services that support our residents.
"We will not tolerate it. Our teams investigate every single incident, hunting for evidence to catch the culprits. Anyone who takes such selfish, illegal actions are parasites on society. So, if you dump waste, we will do everything in our power to find you and prosecute you to the full extent of the law.
"But don't forget, we all have a part to play in stopping vile fly-tips like this. If your waste ends up in a fly-tip and you haven’t done your due diligence, you will be held accountable. So make sure you do your duty.
"Check your waste collector’s credentials. Demand a waste carrier’s licence and a disposal receipt. It’s your legal duty - and it’s how we protect our countryside, our communities, and ourselves.”