A few weeks ago, in a wood near the town of Belforêt-en-Perche, the gendarmes got their hands on an open-air dump for abandoned cars. “We discovered forty-six wrecks in a wood, returns Captain Philippe (1), deputy environment officer within the Orne gendarmerie group. Some were hidden under the trees. We took an aerial photo to see the size of this deposit. »
In the middle of the year, another landfill was spotted near Tourouvre-au-Perche. A “treasure” of fifty wrecks had been collected by a man linked to scrap dealers. “We generally find the same process. Illegal dumps are used to dismantle cars to resell spare parts to scrap dealers”develops the pattern of the new environment center set up in 2023.
Read also: Car wrecks in a garden: the gendarmes intervene in Beaumont-en-Auge
A risk of soil pollution
Problem: these cars are left out in the wild with all their fluids inside. “Hydrocarbons and oils are not treated, alerts Captain Philippe. There is a significant risk of soil pollution. When I worked in Charente-Maritime, my team had decided opened 200 cars in an illegal car scrapyard. Some vehicles were buried in the ground. »
Three investigations opened in Orne
Investigators trained in environmental damage have opened three investigations into illegal dumping linked to cars. The gendarmerie goes to the site, makes observations and provides information to the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL). “They make their report and the gendarmerie opens an investigation into irregular waste management. This type of affair can lead us to other offenses such as concealed work”continues the officer. The sanctions imposed are generally restoration of the polluted land and fines.
(1) For confidentiality reasons, the captain's last name is not mentioned.
