Crap TownsBritain's towns, rated by the people stuck in them

Crap Towns / Basildon / Pollution incidents

How often does Basildon get polluted?

12 serious pollution incidents have been recorded in Basildon or within 1 km of it since 2016, the joint 79th most of the 948 English towns that have had one. 1 was major, the worst kind. The most recent came in April 2026 and put household waste on the land and in the air. Firefighting run-off turned up in 5 of them.

The incidents
WhenWhatWhereImpact
April 2026Household wasteOn the land and in the airSignificant
January 2026Contaminated soil, household waste and specific waste materialOn the landSignificant
August 2025DustOn the land and in the airSignificant
August 2025Atmospheric pollutant or effectIn the airSignificant
March 2025Building rubble, contaminated building rubble, firefighting run-off, household waste, metal wastes, tyres and vehicle partsOn the landSignificant
September 2024Firefighting run-offIn the waterSignificant
September 2024An unidentified pollutantIn the water, on the land and in the airSignificant
August 2020Firefighting run-offIn the waterMajor
December 2018Waste oilOn the landSignificant
October 2018Building rubble, smoke, tyres and vehicle partsOn the landSignificant
May 2018Commercial waste, firefighting run-off and smokeOn the landSignificant
August 2016Firefighting run-offIn the waterSignificant
Nearby towns
TownDistanceSerious incidents since 2016
Basildon–12
Runwell8.5 km6
Wickford6.9 km4
Brentwood11.3 km3
Rayleigh11.2 km3
Thundersley and South Benfleet9.4 km3
Billericay6.5 km1
Canvey Island11.1 km1