Six Apprehended After 22,000 Tonnes of Waste Created Oxfordshire 'Mountain'

Two more men have been arrested in connection with the illegal dumping of more than 22,000 tonnes of waste at a site in Oxfordshire, bringing the total number of people apprehended in the investigation to six.

The Environment Agency confirmed on Tuesday that a 21-year-old man from Ashford, Surrey, and a 43-year-old man from Stanwell, Surrey, were arrested over the waste dumped near Kidlington. Both men have been released on conditional bail while the investigation continues.

The arrests follow a major illegal dumping operation in a field between the River Cherwell and the A34. The waste pile grew to about 10 metres high and contained an estimated 22,704 tonnes of rubbish.

The latest arrests follow four earlier apprehensions, including one in November, two in January and another in February.

Five-Month Cleanup Cost £6 Million

The enormous waste pile was removed during a five-month cleanup operation that concluded in August. The Environment Agency estimated the operation cost about £6 million ($8.1 milion), making the removal one of the most significant interventions of its kind.

The agency normally seeks to make those responsible for illegal waste dumping, as well as landowners where appropriate, pay for cleanup operations. However, officials made an exceptional decision to remove the Kidlington waste themselves because of the scale of the site and the potential fire risk.

The site was located close to the River Cherwell, raising additional environmental concerns.

The Environment Agency said the rubbish presented an overriding public safety concern because of the risk of it catching fire.

No additional funding was provided to the agency for the operation. Instead, it said the cost would be covered through efficiencies in its existing operations. The cleanup also involved landfill tax payments to the Treasury.

Waste Dumping Continued Despite Monitoring

The illegal activity first came to the attention of authorities in July 2025, after concerns were raised about suspicious activity at the site.

The Environment Agency later shut down the Kidlington site in October after officers found evidence that criminal activity had continued.

Despite monitoring the location after being alerted to the dumping, large quantities of waste were still deposited at the site. The scale of the operation eventually resulted in a huge pile of commercial and household waste being left in the field.

The Environment Agency's area environment manager for the Thames, Colin Chiverton, described the dumping as having shown little regard for the local community.

He said the agency had acted quickly to remove the waste and that investigators were continuing to gather evidence.

Chiverton said the latest arrests represented another important step towards establishing responsibility and securing justice for residents.

Government Promises Crackdown on Waste Crime

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the government was taking action against those responsible for waste crime. She said the latest arrests were part of efforts to address the impact illegal dumping has had on communities.

The Oxfordshire case comes amid wider concerns over illegal waste activity across England, with authorities facing the challenge of investigating dumping operations while also dealing with the costs of clearing the resulting waste.

The Environment Agency has continued its investigation into the Kidlington site, with the six apprehensions forming part of efforts to identify those responsible for the dumping.

The two latest suspects remain on conditional bail as further inquiries are carried out.