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Two individuals have been arrested as an element of an investigation into the illegal deposit of several thousand of tonnes of rubbish in a rural field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was arrested at a residence in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was taken into custody in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the huge heap of waste dumped near the area of Kidlington.

These apprehensions occur a week after a recent investigation which exposed the existence of over 500 illegal tips in England, encompassing at minimum 11 so-called "major sites" larger than 20,000 metric tons.

A official for the environmental agency stated that the arrests were for environmental and financial crimes and represented a "vital step" in ongoing investigations. The two individuals have been set free on bail.

Magnitude of the Situation

The illegal site in the Kidlington area, positioned between the Cherwell River and the A34, is estimated to hold about 21,000 metric tons of rubbish in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) in height.

This mound of garbage is made up of what appears to be processed residential waste, chopped up plastics, polystyrene, automobile tires and assorted everyday articles.

It is just a single of 517 unlawful sites throughout England, at minimum 11 of which are estimated to hold over 20,000 tonnes of garbage. They feature a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.

The actual amount of such major sites is expected to be larger, as the environmental authority has in the past stated it does not hold data on weight for each illegal tip.

Most sites are in rural locations, often concealed, and on land that should be farm ground.

Organised Operations

Law enforcement say a significant number are operated by criminal organizations, who are making money by charging significantly less than legitimate operators to receive and dispose of waste.

Businesses have to pay disposal fees to use lawful disposal sites, depending on the amount and category of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also charged at just over £126 per tonne.

Community Outrage

Preparatory work to remove the affected site commenced recently following fears over the risk of combustion and the impact that would have on the adjacent A-road.

A contracted waste removal company has been given the task to deal with the area over the coming 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An enforcement official for the government environment team stated that the authority would be aiming to recover the clearance costs under confiscation legislation from any individual successfully prosecuted at the conclusion of its current investigation.

She noted that these arrests would help "push the inquiry forward" and permit officials to "follow more lines of inquiry to determine precisely what happened and who was implicated".

"The illegal tip at Kidlington was an atrocious and deliberate attack on our natural surroundings and the authorities share the local outrage at this horrific act," she stated.

A cabinet minister welcomed the detentions, commenting: "This unauthorized tipping of waste at this location is utterly appalling and has caused significant harm to the natural world and distress to the surrounding population.

"Our government is dedicated to eliminating this category of illegal activity throughout the nation, by augmenting resources to address illegal dumping, recruiting more officers and introducing more severe checks and fines for those who flout the rules."

The detentions were made on Thursday by officers from a specialist serious crime squad and come after an prior apprehension of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area area in November. He was set free awaiting more enquiries.