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A pair of individuals have been detained as part of an investigation into the tipping of several thousand of metric tons of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire.

Officials reported that a 69-year-old was apprehended at a dwelling in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the massive heap of rubbish deposited near Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

These apprehensions occur a week after a recent revelation which revealed the operation of more than 500 unauthorized dumps in England, encompassing at least 11 so-called "major sites" larger than 20,000 tonnes.

A official for the regulatory body said that the apprehensions were for environmental and financial violations and represented a "vital step" in active probes. Both men have been let go on bail.

Magnitude of the Issue

The tipping ground in near Kidlington, located between the river Cherwell and the A34, is estimated to house around 21,000 tonnes of refuse in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) lengthwise and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of garbage is made up of what seems to be treated domestic refuse, shredded plastic items, expanded polystyrene, tires and assorted household objects.

It is just one example of 517 unauthorized tips across the country, at a minimum of 11 of which hold more than 20,000 tonnes of garbage. Such sites encompass a 280,000-tonne location in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.

The actual number of such larger locations is probably to be larger, as the environmental body has earlier stated it does not maintain records on volume for every unauthorized tip.

A large proportion of sites are in countryside areas, often hidden, and on land that is zoned as arable ground.

Organised Enterprise

Law enforcement state numerous are run by criminal organizations, who are earning cash by asking for much less than licensed companies to accept and dispose of garbage.

Businesses have to be liable for disposal fees to use licensed landfill sites, depending on the amount and category of material they are trying to discard, and a disposal levy is also applied at just over £126 per tonne.

Local Frustration

Preparatory efforts to remove the Kidlington area dump started in recent weeks amid worries over the potential of blaze and the effect that would have on the adjacent major road.

A commercial waste clearance firm has been awarded the contract to remediate the site over the following 12 months at a price of £9.6m.

An investigations official for the country's environmental crime team said that the body would be looking to recover the clearance expenses under confiscation laws from any individual found guilty at the end of its current investigation.

She added that this week's arrests would help "move the inquiry forward" and enable the agency to "follow more avenues to understand in detail what transpired and who was implicated".

"This illegal tip at the site was an shocking and intentional assault on our environment and we share the local outrage at this terrible crime," she remarked.

A senior official welcomed the actions, stating: "The illegal dumping of garbage at the site is disgraceful and has caused significant detriment to the ecology and upset to the nearby community.

"The authorities is committed to stamping out this type of illegal activity throughout the UK, by boosting funds to tackle illegal dumping, recruiting more officers and introducing stricter measures and sanctions for those who violate the law."

The detentions were made on Thursday by personnel from a specialist organised crime unit and come after an earlier arrest of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area area in November. He was let go pending further inquiries.