Illegal dumpers bury open land in massive pile of waste
Witness
Fly-tippers have deposited a mountain of rubbish in a field in Oxfordshire.
The "environmental crisis occurring in full view" is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.
The huge mound has been discovered in a field alongside the River Cherwell close to Kidlington.
A local MP brought up the issue in parliament, saying it was "threatening an environmental disaster".
Conservation group stated the unauthorized waste site was established approximately a few weeks back by an organised crime group.
"This is an environmental catastrophe taking place in plain sight.
"Each day that passes increases the risk of hazardous run-off entering the river system, polluting animals and endangering the wellbeing of the complete catchment.
"The Environment Agency must act immediately, not in the distant future, which is their typical action timeframe."
Legal prohibition had been established by the environmental authorities.
It is hard to identify any individual bits of waste as it looks to have been broken up with dirt mixed in.
Some of the rubbish from the peak of the heap has fallen and is now just five meters from the waterway.
The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which signifies it runs through Oxford before joining the Thames.
Official recording
The representative asked the administration for support to remove the unauthorized dump before it triggered a fire or was washed away into the river system.
Informing elected representatives on recently, he said: "Criminals have dumped a huge quantity of unauthorized polymer rubbish... amounting to hundreds of tonnes, in my district on a floodplain adjacent to the River Cherwell.
"Stream volumes are rising and temperature readings indicate that the waste is also warming, elevating the threat of combustion.
"Regulatory body reported it has inadequate resources for enforcement, that the anticipated cost of clearance is greater than the whole annual funding of the municipal authority."
Environment minister said the government had inherited a underperforming waste industry that had created an "growing issue of illegal waste disposal".
She informed representatives the agency had issued a restriction order to stop further admission to the site.
In a announcement, the authority confirmed it was examining the incident and appealed for information.
It commented: "We share the community's anger about occurrences like this, which is why we respond against those culpable for illegal dumping."
A recent report found initiatives to combat significant environmental offenses have been "critically neglected" despite the situation becoming more extensive and more complex.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee suggested an autonomous "root and branch" inquiry into how "prevalent" illegal dumping is tackled.
