🔗 Share this article

---

Waste criminals have dumped a mountain of waste in a rural area in Oxfordshire.

The "environmental catastrophe occurring in full view" is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) tall.

The huge mound has appeared in a field alongside the River Cherwell near Kidlington.

Elected official highlighted the issue in parliament, stating it was "posing risk of an environmental emergency".

An environmental charity stated the illegal garbage pile was established about a recently by an organised crime group.

"This is an environmental crisis developing in plain sight.

"Every day that goes by elevates the threat of toxic seepage entering the aquatic network, poisoning wildlife and threatening the condition of the entire watershed.

"Regulatory bodies must take action now, not in extended periods, which is their typical response period."

A restriction order had been implemented by the regulatory body.

It is difficult to distinguish any specific items of waste as it looks to have been pulverized with soil mixed in.

Some of the garbage from the uppermost part of the mound has collapsed and is now merely five meters from the stream.

The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which means it flows through Oxford before connecting with the Thames.

The official petitioned the administration for help to clear the illegal tip before it resulted in a fire or was carried into the aquatic system.

Informing MPs on Thursday, he declared: "Illegal operators have dumped a massive amount of unlawful synthetic materials... weighing hundreds of tonnes, in my electoral area on a riverside area next to the River Cherwell.

"River levels are growing and thermal imaging demonstrate that the rubbish is also increasing in temperature, elevating the risk of blaze.

"The Environment Agency stated it has limited funding for enforcement, that the projected price of removal is greater than the whole annual budget of the local district council."

Cabinet member stated the administration had assumed responsibility for a struggling waste industry that had resulted in an "growing issue of unlawful waste disposal".

She told parliament members the organization had implemented a restriction order to stop further entry to the location.

In a announcement, the organization confirmed it was looking into the incident and requested for information.

It stated: "We understand the community's frustration about incidents like this, which is why we take action against those accountable for illegal dumping."

A recently published investigation determined attempts to combat major waste crime have been "severely overlooked" even though the issue developing into bigger and more complex.

The Environment and Climate Change Committee proposed an separate "thorough" examination into how "widespread" waste crime is dealt with.