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A pair of individuals have been detained as an element of an probe into the dumping of several thousand of metric tons of refuse in a open field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was arrested in the town of Slough in association with the massive pile of waste dumped near Kidlington.

These arrests occur a week after a recent investigation which uncovered the presence of in excess of 500 unlawful tips throughout the country of England, featuring at least 11 so-called "super sites" larger than 20,000 metric tons.

A official for the environment authorities commented that the apprehensions were for environmental and financial crimes and constituted a "vital step" in active probes. The two individuals have been released on pre-trial release.

Scale of the Problem

The tipping ground in the Kidlington area, situated between the Cherwell River and the A34 highway, is estimated to hold approximately 21,000 tons of rubbish in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.

This heap of rubbish is composed of what seems to be sorted household waste, shredded plastics, polystyrene, tyres and assorted household objects.

It is just a single of 517 unlawful dumps in the country, at least 11 of which contain over 20,000 metric tons of waste. These include a 280,000-tonne location in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne site in the county of Kent.

The total number of such major locations is probably to be greater, as the environmental authority has earlier stated it does not maintain data on volume for every illegal site.

Most sites are in agricultural areas, typically concealed, and on land that is intended to be arable ground.

Criminal Operations

Authorities report a significant number are run by criminal organizations, who are making money by demanding much less than lawful companies to accept and landfill waste.

Businesses have to incur site fees to use lawful landfill sites, depending on the amount and type of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per ton.

Local Frustration

Preparatory efforts to clean up the affected dump started earlier this month amid concerns over the threat of combustion and the impact that would have on the nearby highway.

A private clean-up company has been awarded the contract to deal with the location over the following 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An enforcement official for the country's regulatory unit stated that the body would be aiming to recoup the clearance costs under confiscation legislation from anyone convicted at the conclusion of its ongoing investigation.

She added that the recent arrests would help "push the probe forward" and allow authorities to "pursue more leads to understand in detail what transpired and who was implicated".

"The unlawful tip at this location was an atrocious and intentional assault on our natural surroundings and the authorities share the local anger at this egregious offence," she said.

A government minister welcomed the arrests, adding: "The illegal dumping of rubbish at the site is appalling and has resulted in significant damage to the ecology and distress to the nearby population.

"The administration is pledged to stamping out this type of crime across the country, by augmenting resources to address illegal dumping, hiring more personnel and implementing tougher measures and fines for those who flout the law."

The arrests were carried out on the specified day by personnel from a dedicated serious crime unit and are in addition to an prior arrest of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area area in the autumn. He was released subject to additional inquiries.