🔗 Share this article Apprehensions Executed in Connection to Massive Unlawful Waste Site It is believed that around 21,000 tonnes of waste were unlawfully dumped at the Oxfordshire county location. Two individuals have been arrested as a component of an investigation into the tipping of many thousands of tonnes of waste in a open field in the county of Oxfordshire. Law enforcement indicated that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a dwelling in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was arrested in Slough in connection with the huge mound of garbage tipped near Kidlington. These arrests follow a recent revelation which exposed the existence of in excess of 500 unauthorized dumps in England, including at a minimum of 11 so-called "super sites" bigger than 20,000 tonnes. A spokeswoman for the environmental authorities stated that the arrests were for ecological and financial violations and constituted a "key step" in active probes. The two individuals have been released on pre-trial release. The men were apprehended in connection with proceeds of crime and ecological crimes. Size of the Problem The dump in Kidlington, positioned between the river Cherwell and the A34, is believed to hold around 21,000 tons of rubbish in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) in height. This heap of waste is composed of what looks to be treated domestic rubbish, fragmented plastics, polystyrene, tires and various household items. It is just one of 517 unauthorized tips throughout England, at least 11 of which hold over 20,000 tonnes of garbage. Such sites include a 280,000-tonne location in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent. The overall amount of such bigger sites is expected to be larger, as the regulatory body has previously indicated it does not possess records on tonnage for all unauthorized dump. A large proportion of sites are in agricultural areas, frequently hidden, and on land that should be agricultural land. Criminal Operations Authorities state a significant number are run by organised crime gangs, who are generating money by demanding significantly less than lawful companies to receive and dispose of rubbish. Businesses have to pay site fees to use licensed landfill sites, based on the quantity and nature of waste they are trying to get rid of, and a waste tax is also applied at just over £126 per tonne. Public Anger Preparatory operations to remove the Kidlington area site commenced recently due to worries over the risk of blaze and the consequences that would have on the nearby major road. A contracted waste removal firm has been given the contract to handle the location over the coming 12 months period at a price of £9.6m. An compliance manager for the national regulatory unit said that the authority would be seeking to recoup the clean-up expenses under asset recovery legislation from anyone convicted at the end of its current case. She noted that the recent detentions would help "push the inquiry forward" and permit officials to "investigate more avenues to ascertain in detail what transpired and who was involved". "The unlawful tip at the site was an atrocious and deliberate attack on our environment and we understand the community's outrage at this terrible offence," she said. A senior minister welcomed the detentions, stating: "This unlawful deposit of rubbish at this location is disgraceful and has caused substantial harm to the environment and upset to the surrounding residents. "The authorities is committed to stamping out this type of crime throughout the nation, by increasing resources to address environmental crime, hiring more officers and enacting tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law." The arrests were made on Thursday by agents from a regional organised crime team and come after an earlier detention of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area area in the autumn. He was set free pending additional enquiries.