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Two individuals have been arrested as a component of an probe into the illegal deposit of thousands of tonnes of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement stated that a man in his late sixties was arrested at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while a man in his fifties was arrested in Slough in connection with the enormous heap of garbage deposited near Kidlington.

These arrests come after a previous report which revealed the presence of over 500 unauthorized dumps across England, including at minimum 11 so-called "super sites" greater than 20,000 tons.

A official for the regulatory authorities said that the apprehensions were for ecological and financial violations and constituted a "crucial step" in ongoing probes. Both men have been let go on pre-trial release.

Size of the Issue

The tipping ground in Kidlington, situated between the Cherwell River and the A34, is thought to house about 21,000 tonnes of waste in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of waste is composed of what appears to be treated residential waste, shredded plastic materials, expanded polystyrene, automobile tires and various domestic items.

It constitutes just one example of 517 unlawful tips throughout England, at minimum 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tonnes of rubbish. These encompass a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire county and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The total amount of such bigger locations is probably to be higher, as the regulatory authority has in the past acknowledged it does not possess records on volume for all illegal dump.

Most sites are in agricultural areas, frequently out of sight, and on land that is intended to be agricultural property.

Organised Activity

Law enforcement state a significant number are operated by organised crime gangs, who are generating cash by asking for far less than legitimate firms to receive and bury rubbish.

Firms have to be liable for disposal fees to use licensed waste facilities, depending on the amount and nature of waste they are trying to dispose of, and a waste tax is also levied at just over £126 per ton.

Community Frustration

Preparation efforts to remove the Kidlington area dump started earlier this month amid fears over the threat of combustion and the effect that would have on the close-by highway.

A contracted waste removal company has been given the job to deal with the site over the next 12 months at a cost of £9.6m.

An enforcement official for the country's environment team commented that the agency would be seeking to recoup the clearance costs under confiscation laws from any party ultimately convicted at the end of its ongoing inquiry.

She noted that the recent arrests would help "drive the probe forward" and allow authorities to "investigate more leads to determine precisely what transpired and who was implicated".

"The unlawful dump at this location was an atrocious and calculated affront on our environment and we empathize with the public's frustration at this terrible offence," she remarked.

A cabinet minister supported the arrests, adding: "This unlawful dumping of rubbish at this location is disgraceful and has caused considerable detriment to the environment and upset to the local residents.

"The authorities is pledged to eradicating this type of illegal activity throughout the country, by increasing financing to combat waste crime, employing more staff and enacting tougher controls and fines for those who violate the law."

The apprehensions were made on a recent Thursday by officers from a regional crime unit and come after an earlier arrest of a 39-year-old from the Surrey area in last November. He was set free awaiting additional inquiries.