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Two individuals have been arrested as an element of an probe into the tipping of thousands of metric tons of waste in a open field in Oxfordshire, England.

Authorities indicated that a 69-year-old was arrested at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while a man in his fifties was detained in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the massive mound of waste deposited near Kidlington.

These apprehensions follow a recent revelation which exposed the existence of over 500 illegal sites throughout the country of England, including at minimum 11 so-called "major sites" larger than 20,000 metric tons.

A representative for the environmental agency said that the arrests were for environmental and proceeds of crime offences and were a "vital step" in active investigations. Both men have been let go on bail.

Magnitude of the Problem

The dump in the Kidlington area, positioned between the River Cherwell and the A34, is thought to house around 21,000 tons of rubbish in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of rubbish is made up of what seems to be treated household refuse, fragmented plastic materials, polystyrene, automobile tires and other everyday objects.

It represents just one of 517 unauthorized tips throughout England, at least 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tons of rubbish. They feature a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire county and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The actual amount of such major sites is probably to be larger, as the environmental authority has in the past stated it does not possess information on tonnage for every unlawful dump.

The majority such locations are in countryside locations, often concealed, and on land that should be farm property.

Organised Activity

Law enforcement say numerous are run by organized crime groups, who are earning profit by demanding far less than licensed operators to accept and bury garbage.

Businesses have to pay disposal fees to use lawful disposal sites, depending on the volume and nature of waste they are trying to get rid of, and a disposal levy is also levied at just over £126 per metric ton.

Community Anger

Preparation work to remove the affected location began in recent weeks amid worries over the risk of combustion and the consequences that would have on the nearby A-road.

A private waste removal firm has been given the contract to deal with the location over the following 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An enforcement official for the government environment team stated that the agency would be aiming to recoup the clearance funds under asset recovery laws from any party ultimately found guilty at the termination of its active inquiry.

She further stated that the recent arrests would help "push the inquiry forward" and permit the agency to "follow more leads to determine in detail what occurred and who was a party to it".

"The illegal dump at this location was an atrocious and deliberate affront on our natural surroundings and we understand the community's anger at this horrific crime," she remarked.

A cabinet minister welcomed the detentions, adding: "This unlawful tipping of garbage at Kidlington is disgraceful and has resulted in considerable damage to the environment and anguish to the surrounding population.

"Our government is committed to eradicating this type of crime in the UK, by increasing funds to tackle environmental crime, employing more staff and enacting more severe measures and sanctions for those who break the law."

The arrests were executed on Thursday by officers from a specialist crime team and are in addition to an earlier arrest of a man in his thirties from the Guildford region in last November. He was released subject to further enquiries.