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A pair of individuals have been detained as a component of an probe 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 detained at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was arrested in the town of Slough in association with the huge pile of rubbish dumped near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These detentions follow a recent report which exposed the existence of more than 500 illegal sites in England, including at a minimum of 11 so-called "major sites" bigger than 20,000 tonnes.

A representative for the environment agency commented that the detentions were for ecological and proceeds of crime violations and were a "vital step" in ongoing inquiries. The two individuals have been set free on bail.

Scale of the Problem

The tipping ground in Kidlington, situated between the river Cherwell and the A34 road, is believed to house around 21,000 tons of refuse in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.

This heap of waste is consists of what seems to be sorted domestic rubbish, shredded plastic materials, Styrofoam, tires and assorted household items.

It is just a single of 517 unauthorized sites across England, at minimum 11 of which hold more than 20,000 tonnes of garbage. Such sites include a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne site in the county of Kent.

The total amount of such larger locations is probably to be higher, as the environmental body has in the past stated it does not hold data on tonnage for each illegal site.

A large proportion of sites are in countryside locations, often concealed, and on land that is intended to be arable ground.

Organised Activity

Authorities report many are managed by organized crime groups, who are making money by demanding significantly less than legitimate operators to take and bury garbage.

Firms have to be liable for site fees to use lawful disposal sites, contingent on the volume and category of refuse they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also levied at just over £126 per ton.

Local Frustration

Preparatory efforts to remove the affected dump started in recent weeks amid fears over the potential of blaze and the effect that would have on the close-by major road.

A contracted clean-up company has been granted the task to handle the site over the next 12 months at a cost of £9.6m.

An compliance manager for the government environmental crime unit said that the body would be aiming to recoup the clearance costs under asset recovery laws from any party found guilty at the end of its ongoing investigation.

She further stated that the recent apprehensions would help "push the probe forward" and permit authorities to "pursue more lines of inquiry to ascertain precisely what occurred and who was implicated".

"The unauthorized dump at this location was an atrocious and deliberate attack on our natural surroundings and the authorities empathize with the community's frustration at this terrible offence," she stated.

A senior official supported the detentions, adding: "The unauthorized deposit of waste at this location is appalling and has resulted in considerable damage to the natural world and anguish to the surrounding community.

"Our government is dedicated to eradicating this type of illegal activity throughout the country, by augmenting financing to address waste crime, recruiting more officers and implementing stricter checks and fines for those who flout the rules."

The apprehensions were executed on a recent Thursday by agents from a regional serious crime squad and follow an previous apprehension of a 39-year-old from the Surrey region in the autumn. He was set free subject to additional enquiries.