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Two individuals have been taken into custody as part of an investigation into the illegal deposit of thousands of tonnes of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.

Officials reported that a 69-year-old was arrested at a residence in Andover, Hampshire, while a man in his fifties was arrested in Slough in association with the massive mound of garbage deposited near Kidlington.

These arrests come after a previous revelation which exposed the presence of over 500 illegal dumps in England, featuring at least 11 so-called "super sites" larger than 20,000 tonnes.

A official for the environment body commented that the detentions were for ecological and financial crimes and were a "crucial step" in active inquiries. The apprehended men have been let go on bail.

Size of the Issue

The dump in the Kidlington area, positioned between the Cherwell River and the A34 road, is thought to hold about 21,000 tons of refuse in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) in height.

This mound of waste is made up of what seems to be treated domestic waste, chopped up plastics, polystyrene, tyres and assorted domestic items.

It is just one of 517 unauthorized sites across the country, at a minimum of 11 of which hold in excess of 20,000 tonnes of waste. They include a 280,000-tonne area in the county of Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.

The actual figure of such larger dumps is likely to be higher, as the environment body has previously stated it does not maintain data on weight for each unlawful site.

Most sites are in countryside settings, typically concealed, and on land that is zoned as agricultural ground.

Organised Activity

Authorities say a significant number are run by organized crime groups, who are earning money by asking for far less than lawful firms to accept and dispose of waste.

Firms have to pay site fees to use legitimate disposal sites, depending on the amount and category of refuse they are trying to get rid of, and a disposal levy is also applied at just over £126 per tonne.

Public Anger

Preparatory efforts to clear the Kidlington area location started recently amid fears over the risk of fire and the effect that would have on the adjacent A-road.

A private waste removal company has been given the job to remediate the area over the coming 12 months at a cost of £9.6m.

An investigations official for the country's environmental crime division stated that the body would be looking to recoup the clearance funds under proceeds of crime laws from any party successfully found guilty at the end of its active investigation.

She further stated that this week's arrests would help "push the investigation forward" and allow authorities to "investigate more avenues to determine precisely what transpired and who was involved".

"The illegal tip at this location was an shocking and deliberate attack on our natural surroundings and the authorities share the community's frustration at this horrific crime," she said.

A government minister praised the detentions, stating: "This unauthorized deposit of rubbish at this location is disgraceful and has resulted in substantial detriment to the ecology and upset to the local population.

"The authorities is committed to stamping out this category of illegal activity in the country, by augmenting resources to address illegal dumping, employing more officers and introducing more severe checks and fines for those who break the law."

The detentions were made on the specified day by personnel from a specialist crime unit and are in addition to an earlier arrest of a 39-year-old from the Guildford region in last November. He was set free awaiting more enquiries.