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Two individuals have been arrested as a component of an investigation into the dumping of many thousands of metric tons of rubbish in a field in Oxfordshire.

Law enforcement indicated that a 69-year-old was detained at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a man in his fifties was detained in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the huge mound of waste dumped near Kidlington.

These apprehensions follow a previous investigation which exposed the existence of in excess of 500 unauthorized sites in the country of England, encompassing at minimum 11 so-called "large-scale sites" greater than 20,000 metric tons.

A representative for the environmental body said that the arrests were for environmental and money laundering offences and represented a "vital step" in active inquiries. The apprehended men have been set free on bail.

Magnitude of the Problem

The tipping ground in the Kidlington area, positioned between the river Cherwell and the A34, is estimated to contain around 21,000 tonnes of rubbish in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) in height.

This heap of rubbish is composed of what seems to be sorted domestic rubbish, shredded plastic items, Styrofoam, tyres and assorted household objects.

It represents just one of 517 unlawful dumps across the country, at a minimum of 11 of which hold in excess of 20,000 tons of rubbish. Such sites feature a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne locations in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne site in Kent.

The actual figure of such larger sites is expected to be greater, as the regulatory body has previously stated it does not possess information on volume for every unauthorized dump.

The majority such locations are in agricultural areas, typically hidden, and on land that is intended to be arable ground.

Organised Enterprise

Police report numerous are run by criminal organizations, who are making profit by charging far less than legitimate firms to receive and dispose of waste.

Companies have to pay site fees to use legitimate disposal sites, depending on the quantity and category of waste they are trying to discard, and landfill tax is also charged at just over £126 per ton.

Local Outrage

Preparatory operations to clear the Kidlington dump started in recent weeks amid worries over the potential of blaze and the consequences that would have on the adjacent major road.

A private clean-up contractor has been awarded the contract to remediate the site over the next 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An enforcement officer for the government regulatory team commented that the body would be seeking to recoup the clean-up costs under proceeds of crime acts from any individual ultimately found guilty at the end of its ongoing case.

She further stated that these arrests would help "push the investigation forward" and enable the agency to "follow more avenues to determine exactly what occurred and who was implicated".

"The illegal site at this location was an shocking and intentional attack on our environment and we empathize with the public's frustration at this horrific crime," she remarked.

A senior official praised the detentions, adding: "This unlawful dumping of waste at this location is appalling and has caused significant damage to the environment and distress to the surrounding residents.

"Our administration is committed to eliminating this type of criminality throughout the nation, by increasing financing to tackle waste crime, hiring more staff and implementing stricter controls and sanctions for those who violate the law."

The detentions were made on Thursday by officers from a specialist crime team and are in addition to an previous apprehension of a man in his thirties from the Guildford area in the autumn. He was released awaiting further enquiries.