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

Law enforcement reported that a 69-year-old was detained at a dwelling in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was taken into custody in Slough in relation with the enormous mound of waste deposited near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These detentions follow a previous report which revealed the presence of over 500 illegal dumps throughout England, encompassing at minimum 11 so-called "major sites" larger than 20,000 tons.

A representative for the environment agency stated that the arrests were for ecological and money laundering offences and represented a "crucial step" in continuing investigations. The two individuals have been let go on conditional release.

Size of the Situation

The tipping ground in Kidlington, located between the Cherwell River and the A34, is estimated to hold approximately 21,000 metric tons of rubbish in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) tall.

This mound of waste is made up of what looks to be processed domestic refuse, fragmented plastics, polystyrene, tyres and assorted domestic items.

It is just one example of 517 unlawful dumps throughout England, at minimum 11 of which are estimated to hold more than 20,000 metric tons of waste. They encompass a 280,000-tonne area in the county of Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in the county of Kent.

The overall figure of such major dumps is expected to be greater, as the regulatory body has previously indicated it does not maintain information on tonnage for every illegal tip.

Most these sites are in agricultural locations, typically hidden, and on land that is intended to be agricultural ground.

Organized Enterprise

Police say many are operated by organized crime groups, who are generating profit by charging significantly less than licensed companies to receive and bury rubbish.

Companies have to incur disposal fees to use lawful disposal sites, depending on the quantity and category of material they are trying to dispose of, and landfill tax is also applied at just over £126 per ton.

Community Outrage

Preparation efforts to clear the affected site began recently following fears over the risk of fire and the effect that would have on the adjacent major road.

A private waste clearance company has been awarded the task to handle the area over the following 12 months period at a expense of £9.6m.

An enforcement manager for the country's environmental crime team stated that the authority would be aiming to recoup the clearance costs under confiscation laws from any individual convicted at the end of its current investigation.

She added that these arrests would help "drive the probe forward" and permit officials to "pursue more avenues to determine precisely what happened and who was implicated".

"This unauthorized tip at this location was an atrocious and intentional affront on our ecology and we understand the community's frustration at this terrible crime," she said.

A senior representative welcomed the arrests, adding: "This unlawful deposit of garbage at the site is disgraceful and has led to significant detriment to the natural world and upset to the nearby population.

"The administration is committed to eradicating this type of illegal activity throughout the nation, by boosting resources to combat illegal dumping, recruiting more officers and implementing stricter checks and sanctions for those who break the regulations."

The arrests were executed on a recent Thursday by agents from a dedicated serious crime team and follow an prior detention of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area region in last November. He was set free awaiting more investigations.