'Disgusting' clinical waste dumped on Sheppey beaches

Campaigners are calling for a full-scale clean-up of beaches on the Isle of Sheppey following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped clinical waste. The "hundreds" of vials, labelled Virus Transport Medium, are believed to be among thousands of tonnes of waste dumped over the cliffs at the north of the island. The area is a 750-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest, an important wildlife habitat, famous for its fossils. Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey Kevin McKenna, who has a degree in microbiology, said he was "deeply concerned" and called for the Environment Agency to start an "urgent investigation". Fossil hunter Daniel Hogburn said he had seen hundreds of vials on the beaches, adding, "Imagine if a child was to pick one up and, dare I say, drink it. It's disgusting." He said the vials stretched from holiday destinations Minster to Leysdown, and possibly beyond due to the recent strong winds. Local residents have described how up to 30 lorries a day tipped waste on an industrial scale over the cliffs from 2020 until 2023, when the sites were closed by the Environment Agency. Vials such as these are used by medical professionals to transport swab samples