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A pair of individuals have been taken into custody as a component of an inquiry into the dumping of several thousand of tonnes of rubbish in a rural field in Oxfordshire.

Authorities reported that a 69-year-old was detained at a dwelling in the town of Andover, while a 54-year-old was arrested in Slough in relation with the enormous pile of garbage tipped near the area of Kidlington.

These apprehensions occur a week after a recent revelation which revealed the operation of in excess of 500 unlawful dumps throughout the country of England, including at a minimum of 11 so-called "super sites" larger than 20,000 tonnes.

A official for the environmental authorities said that the apprehensions were for environmental and money laundering crimes and constituted a "key step" in active inquiries. The apprehended men have been let go on pre-trial release.

Size of the Problem

The dump in the Kidlington area, situated between the River Cherwell and the A34 road, is believed to contain around 21,000 tons of rubbish in a pile which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) high.

This heap of garbage is consists of what looks to be processed domestic refuse, shredded plastics, Styrofoam, tires and assorted household articles.

It is just one of 517 unauthorized dumps across the country, at least 11 of which hold over 20,000 metric tons of rubbish. They include a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The total number of such larger dumps is expected to be higher, as the regulatory body has previously indicated it does not hold data on volume for each unauthorized tip.

The majority these sites are in rural locations, typically concealed, and on land that should be agricultural land.

Criminal Activity

Authorities say many are run by criminal organizations, who are earning money by charging much less than legitimate operators to receive and dispose of garbage.

Businesses have to be liable for disposal fees to use legitimate landfill sites, depending on the quantity and category of refuse they are trying to dispose of, and a disposal levy is also levied at just over £126 per ton.

Public Anger

Initial work to clear the affected site started in recent weeks amid concerns over the potential of fire and the impact that would have on the nearby highway.

A private clean-up firm has been given the contract to remediate the location over the next 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An compliance official for the government environment team commented that the agency would be aiming to recoup the remediation funds under confiscation laws from anyone successfully found guilty at the end of its active inquiry.

She further stated that the recent arrests would help "drive the probe forward" and allow officials to "pursue more lines of inquiry to ascertain exactly what happened and who was implicated".

"The unlawful dump at Kidlington was an appalling and intentional assault on our natural surroundings and we share the community's outrage at this terrible crime," she said.

A government minister welcomed the arrests, stating: "This illegal tipping of rubbish at Kidlington is appalling and has caused considerable harm to the ecology and anguish to the surrounding residents.

"Our administration is pledged to stamping out this category of illegal activity throughout the country, by increasing resources to address illegal dumping, hiring more personnel and introducing more severe checks and fines for those who violate the law."

The apprehensions were carried out on a recent Thursday by agents from a dedicated organised crime squad and are in addition to an previous arrest of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area region in the autumn. He was released subject to more inquiries.