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Two men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the dumping of many thousands of tons of rubbish in a open field in Oxfordshire.

Authorities reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a property in the town of Andover, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the massive heap of garbage tipped near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These arrests occur a week after a recent investigation which revealed the existence of over 500 unauthorized dumps across the country of England, including at a minimum of 11 so-called "super sites" bigger than 20,000 tonnes.

A representative for the regulatory body commented that the arrests were for environment-related and proceeds of crime offences and constituted a "crucial step" in continuing inquiries. The apprehended men have been released on conditional release.

Size of the Situation

The tipping ground in near Kidlington, situated between the Cherwell River and the A34 road, is believed to hold about 21,000 metric tons of waste in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of rubbish is composed of what seems to be treated domestic refuse, chopped up plastic materials, Styrofoam, automobile tires and various everyday objects.

It constitutes just one example of 517 unauthorized sites in England, at a minimum of 11 of which contain over 20,000 tonnes of garbage. They include a 280,000-tonne location in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire county and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The overall figure of such major sites is likely to be greater, as the environmental agency has in the past stated it does not hold information on weight for all unlawful site.

Most sites are in rural areas, typically out of sight, and on land that is zoned as agricultural ground.

Organized Activity

Police state many are run by organised crime gangs, who are earning profit by asking for far less than legitimate firms to accept and landfill garbage.

Firms have to incur site fees to use lawful disposal sites, depending on the quantity and nature of waste they are trying to get rid of, and a disposal levy is also applied at just over £126 per tonne.

Local Frustration

Preparation efforts to clear the affected dump started recently following fears over the risk of fire and the effect that would have on the nearby major road.

A contracted clean-up company has been given the task to deal with the area over the coming 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An enforcement officer for the national environment division commented that the agency would be seeking to claim back the clearance costs under confiscation legislation from any individual found guilty at the termination of its current investigation.

She added that the recent detentions would help "move the inquiry forward" and permit authorities to "pursue more lines of inquiry to understand exactly what transpired and who was involved".

"The unauthorized dump at this location was an shocking and calculated attack on our ecology and the authorities understand the local frustration at this egregious act," she remarked.

A senior representative praised the arrests, adding: "This unauthorized tipping of garbage at this location is appalling and has caused significant harm to the environment and distress to the local population.

"The government is pledged to eliminating this type of criminality throughout the nation, by increasing resources to address illegal dumping, employing more officers and introducing tougher controls and penalties for those who break the rules."

The detentions were carried out on a recent Thursday by personnel from a dedicated organised crime unit and follow an prior detention of a man in his thirties from the Guildford region in last November. He was released subject to further inquiries.