Two men have been arrested in relation to what is being described as Britain's biggest-ever fly-tip, a colossal 500-foot-long rubbish mountain containing 21,000 tonnes of waste near Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The arrests mark a significant development in an ongoing investigation into environmental and money laundering offences linked to this massive illegal dumping site.
Arrests Made in Hampshire and Slough
A 69-year-old man was detained at a residential property in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old man was arrested in Slough. Both individuals have been released on bail as part of the Environment Agency's continuing probe into the fly-tip, which is estimated to cost around £10 million to clear. These arrests follow the earlier detention of a 39-year-old man from Surrey in November, who was also released pending further investigation.
Details of the Oxfordshire Mega Tip
The illegal dump is situated between the River Cherwell, which flows into the Thames, and the busy A34 dual carriageway. Comprising processed domestic waste such as shredded plastics, polystyrene, and various household items, the 20-foot-high pile is believed to have been dumped in a single operation. Local MP Calum Miller has warned that the site is "threatening an environmental disaster," with concerns about fire risks and pollution to the adjacent river.
National Scale of Illegal Dumping
This site is just one of 517 illegal dumps across England, with at least 11 classified as 'super sites' containing over 20,000 tonnes of waste. Notable examples include a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall, and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent. Police indicate that most of these illegal sites are hidden in countryside locations on greenbelt land and are typically operated by organised criminal gangs who undercut official waste disposal costs.
Clearance Operation and Cost Recovery
A private waste clearance firm has been awarded a £9.6 million contract to address the Kidlington site over the next year, with clearance efforts beginning earlier this month. Emma Viner, enforcement and investigations manager for the Environment Agency's national environmental crime unit, stated that the agency intends to recover clearance costs under the Proceeds of Crime Act from anyone prosecuted. She described the dump as "an atrocious and deliberate attack on our environment" and expressed solidarity with the community's anger.
Political and Environmental Concerns
The issue gained political attention last year when Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller raised it in Parliament, highlighting the waste's location on a floodplain and the rising river levels. Environment minister Mary Creagh responded by criticising the inherited waste system and acknowledging an "epidemic of illegal fly-tipping." The Environment Agency has cited limited resources for enforcement, noting that the clearance cost exceeds the entire annual budget of the local district council.
The arrests were conducted by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), underscoring the serious nature of waste crime. As investigations continue, authorities emphasise the government's commitment to combating such criminality through increased funding, more officers, and stricter penalties.
