Illegal dumpers bury open land in mountain of waste
Local resident
Illegal dumpers have deposited a massive amount of waste in a rural area in Oxfordshire.
The "environmental catastrophe unfolding in public view" is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.
The enormous mound has appeared in a plot of land adjacent to the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
A local MP brought up the issue in parliament, saying it was "posing risk of an ecological catastrophe".
Protection organization reported the unauthorized garbage pile was created about a month ago by an illegal operation.
"This represents an ecological disaster taking place in public view.
"Daily that elapses elevates the threat of toxic run-off entering the river system, contaminating fauna and putting at risk the condition of the whole catchment.
"Environmental authorities must respond immediately, not in the distant future, which is their typical action timeframe."
Legal prohibition had been put in place by the Environment Agency.
It is challenging to recognize any specific pieces of waste as it appears to have been broken up with dirt blended.
Some of the waste from the uppermost part of the mound has toppled and is now merely five metres from the stream.
The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which signifies it flows through Oxford before joining the Thames.
Parliament TV
The MP requested the government for assistance to eliminate the illegal tip before it triggered a fire or was carried into the river system.
Addressing parliament members on Thursday, he stated: "Criminals have dumped a massive amount of unlawful plastic waste... amounting to substantial weight, in my constituency on a floodplain next to the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are growing and thermal imaging show that the waste is also warming, increasing the threat of blaze.
"The Environment Agency stated it has restricted capabilities for compliance, that the estimated cost of clearance is greater than the whole annual funding of the local district council."
Cabinet member commented the authorities had assumed responsibility for a struggling disposal business that had caused an "widespread problem of unlawful waste disposal".
She advised MPs the agency had issued a restriction order to stop additional access to the site.
In a declaration, the authority stated it was investigating the situation and appealed for details.
It stated: "We understand the citizens' anger about incidents like this, which is why we intervene against those accountable for environmental offenses."
A recently published investigation found efforts to address serious waste crime have been "critically under-prioritised" notwithstanding the problem becoming larger and more complex.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee suggested an separate "comprehensive" investigation into how "prevalent" illegal dumping is tackled.
