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Two individuals have been detained as a component of an probe into the tipping of thousands of metric tons of waste in a rural field in Oxfordshire.

Authorities reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a residence in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was taken into custody in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the massive mound of waste deposited near Kidlington.

These apprehensions follow a recent investigation which exposed the presence of in excess of 500 illegal sites across the country of England, including at minimum 11 so-called "super sites" bigger than 20,000 tons.

A spokeswoman for the environment body commented that the arrests were for environment-related and financial offences and represented a "key step" in ongoing inquiries. The apprehended men have been set free on conditional release.

Magnitude of the Problem

The dump in near Kidlington, positioned between the River Cherwell and the A34 highway, is estimated to house approximately 21,000 metric tons of waste in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) tall.

This mound of garbage is composed of what appears to be treated domestic refuse, fragmented plastics, Styrofoam, tyres and various everyday articles.

It is just a single of 517 unauthorized sites throughout the country, at minimum 11 of which are estimated to hold in excess of 20,000 tonnes of rubbish. They include a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall county and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The total amount of such bigger locations is likely to be higher, as the regulatory authority has earlier stated it does not hold records on tonnage for each unauthorized tip.

The majority these sites are in countryside settings, often concealed, and on land that should be farm land.

Criminal Activity

Law enforcement say many are operated by organised crime gangs, who are generating money by asking for much less than legitimate firms to accept and dispose of waste.

Firms have to incur disposal fees to use licensed disposal sites, based on the quantity and nature of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also charged at just over £126 per ton.

Community Anger

Preparatory efforts to clear the Kidlington location began recently amid fears over the threat of combustion and the impact that would have on the adjacent A-road.

A commercial waste clearance company has been given the contract to deal with the site over the coming 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An investigations officer for the government environment division commented that the agency would be looking to claim back the clean-up costs under confiscation laws from any individual prosecuted at the conclusion of its active case.

She further stated that this week's detentions would help "drive the investigation forward" and allow authorities to "pursue more avenues to determine in detail what occurred and who was implicated".

"The illegal tip at Kidlington was an shocking and intentional affront on our natural surroundings and the authorities share the public's anger at this terrible crime," she stated.

A cabinet official praised the detentions, stating: "This illegal tipping of garbage at Kidlington is appalling and has caused considerable damage to the natural world and upset to the surrounding residents.

"Our administration is dedicated to stamping out this kind of illegal activity across the country, by augmenting funds to tackle illegal dumping, hiring more officers and enacting stricter measures and sanctions for those who violate the rules."

The arrests were executed on a recent Thursday by personnel from a specialist serious crime team and follow an earlier apprehension of a 39-year-old from the Surrey region in last November. He was set free pending additional inquiries.