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Authorities have arrested two men in connection with the illegal dumping of thousands of tonnes of waste in a field near Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The Environment Agency (EA) confirmed that a 69-year-old man was detained at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while another man, aged 54, was arrested in Slough. The charges relate to environmental violations and money laundering offenses as part of an ongoing investigation.
The massive pile of rubbish, estimated to be around 21,000 tonnes, stretches approximately 150 meters long and stands 6 meters high. Located between the River Cherwell and the A34, the waste includes processed domestic refuse, shredded plastics, polystyrene, tyres, and other household materials. Despite the size of this particular dump, it is just one of 517 illegal waste sites reported across England. Among these, at least 11 sites contain more than 20,000 tonnes of waste, including a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire and several others in Lancashire, Cornwall, and Kent.
Most illegal dumping sites are found in rural areas, often on agricultural lands, hidden from plain sight. Authorities have stated that many are operated by organized crime groups who undercut legitimate waste disposal services by charging significantly lower fees. Legitimate businesses must pay landfill taxes, currently a little over £126 per tonne, alongside site fees, for proper disposal methods. These unlawful operations pose a serious threat to the environment and contribute to widespread illegal waste management practices.
The cleanup at the Kidlington location began earlier this month due to concerns about the potential for fires and their effects on nearby roads. A private contractor has been awarded the contract to clear the site, with an estimated cost of £9.6 million over the next year. Emma Viner from the EA’s national environmental crime unit emphasized that they aim to recover this cost through the Proceeds of Crime Act following successful prosecutions. She described the illegal dumping as “an atrocious and deliberate attack on our environment” and welcomed the recent arrests, saying they are a crucial development in uncovering the details and those responsible. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds also expressed strong condemnation of the dumping, highlighting the government’s commitment to tackling waste crime by increasing funding, personnel, and enforcement measures. The arrests were carried out by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), following a prior arrest of a man in November who was later released pending investigation
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