🔗 Share this article

---

Fly-tippers have dumped a mountain of garbage in a rural area in Oxfordshire.

The "environmental crisis occurring in full view" is up to 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) high.

The massive pile has materialized in a field next to the River Cherwell near Kidlington.

Elected official brought up the issue in parliament, declaring it was "posing risk of an environmental emergency".

Conservation group reported the illegal rubbish dump was created about a recently by an organised crime group.

"This represents an environmental catastrophe developing in plain sight.

"Each day that goes by elevates the risk of hazardous run-off reaching the waterways, polluting fauna and putting at risk the wellbeing of the entire river basin.

"Regulatory bodies must respond immediately, not in extended periods, which is their usual action timeframe."

Access ban had been established by the regulatory body.

It is difficult to recognize any particular items of waste as it appears to have been pulverized with soil blended.

Some of the waste from the uppermost part of the mound has fallen and is now merely five metres from the stream.

The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which means it runs through Oxford before joining the Thames.

The representative petitioned the government for help to remove the illegal tip before it caused a blaze or was washed away into the aquatic system.

Addressing parliament members on Thursday, he said: "Lawbreakers have dumped a massive amount of illegal plastic waste... weighing hundreds of tonnes, in my electoral area on a floodplain adjacent to the River Cherwell.

"River levels are growing and temperature readings show that the rubbish is also warming, elevating the risk of fire.

"Regulatory body reported it has limited capabilities for compliance, that the estimated expense of clearance is greater than the whole annual allocation of the local district council."

Environment minister stated the government had taken over a underperforming waste industry that had resulted in an "growing issue of illegal fly-tipping".

She advised representatives the agency had implemented a restriction order to prevent additional entry to the location.

In a declaration, the authority stated it was looking into the incident and asked for evidence.

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

A recent study found initiatives to combat significant environmental offenses have been "critically overlooked" notwithstanding the issue growing larger and more advanced.

Government advisors suggested an autonomous "comprehensive" inquiry into how "widespread" waste crime is addressed.