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Two individuals have been arrested as an element of an inquiry into the illegal deposit of many thousands of tonnes of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire, England.

Law enforcement stated that a 69-year-old was arrested at a residence in the town of Andover, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough, Berkshire in connection with the huge pile of garbage deposited near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These arrests follow a recent report which exposed the operation of more than 500 illegal tips in England, including at least 11 so-called "super sites" greater than 20,000 metric tons.

A official for the environment agency commented that the detentions were for environmental and financial violations and were a "vital step" in continuing probes. The two individuals have been let go on pre-trial release.

Size of the Problem

The illegal site in the Kidlington area, located between the river Cherwell and the A34, is thought to hold around 21,000 tonnes of refuse in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.

This heap of waste is composed of what looks to be treated residential rubbish, shredded plastics, Styrofoam, tyres and various domestic items.

It is just one example of 517 unlawful sites throughout England, at a minimum of 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tons of rubbish. They feature a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne site in the county of Kent.

The total figure of such larger dumps is likely to be greater, as the environment agency has in the past stated it does not possess records on weight for all unlawful dump.

The majority sites are in rural locations, often out of sight, and on land that should be agricultural land.

Criminal Enterprise

Law enforcement report a significant number are run by organised crime gangs, who are making cash by demanding far less than legitimate operators to receive and bury waste.

Firms have to incur site fees to use lawful waste facilities, depending on the quantity and nature of waste they are trying to get rid of, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per ton.

Local Anger

Preparation work to clear the Kidlington location started earlier this month due to fears over the threat of fire and the effect that would have on the close-by A-road.

A commercial clean-up contractor has been awarded the task to handle the location over the next 12 months period at a expense of £9.6m.

An enforcement manager for the national environment unit commented that the authority would be seeking to claim back the clearance expenses under asset recovery laws from anyone ultimately convicted at the conclusion of its active case.

She further stated that this week's detentions would help "move the probe forward" and permit officials to "follow more lines of inquiry to ascertain precisely what occurred and who was a party to it".

"The illegal tip at Kidlington was an appalling and deliberate attack on our environment and we share the community's frustration at this terrible act," she said.

A senior representative welcomed the arrests, adding: "This illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington is disgraceful and has led to substantial damage to the environment and anguish to the nearby population.

"The administration is committed to eradicating this category of criminality across the nation, by augmenting funds to address illegal dumping, recruiting more personnel and implementing stricter measures and fines for those who flout the law."

The detentions were made on a recent Thursday by personnel from a dedicated crime squad and come after an prior detention of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area region in last November. He was let go subject to more enquiries.