🔗 Share this article

---

Fly-tippers have discarded a massive amount of garbage in a field in Oxfordshire.

The "ecological disaster unfolding in plain sight" is up to 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) tall.

The enormous heap has been discovered in a field next to the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.

A local MP highlighted the situation in parliament, stating it was "posing risk of an environmental disaster".

Protection organization said the illegal waste site was established about a month ago by an illegal operation.

"This represents an environmental catastrophe taking place in full view.

"Daily that elapses increases the risk of toxic drainage entering the river system, polluting fauna and threatening the condition of the complete watershed.

"Environmental authorities must act now, not in extended periods, which is their usual response period."

Legal prohibition had been established by the Environment Agency.

It is hard to identify any specific pieces of rubbish as it looks to have been pulverized with earth blended.

Some of the garbage from the peak 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 indicates it flows through Oxford before connecting with the Thames.

The MP petitioned the administration for help to eliminate the illegal site before it triggered a blaze or was swept into the water network.

Informing MPs on Thursday, he declared: "Criminals have dumped a huge quantity of illegal polymer rubbish... weighing many tons, in my district on a water-adjacent land alongside the River Cherwell.

"Stream volumes are growing and thermal imaging demonstrate that the garbage is also warming, raising the threat of fire.

"Environmental authorities reported it has inadequate resources for regulation, that the projected cost of removal is greater than the complete yearly budget of the local district council."

Environment minister said the government had taken over a underperforming recycling sector that had resulted in an "widespread problem of illegal waste disposal".

She informed parliament members the agency had served a prohibition notice to prevent further admission to the area.

In a announcement, the organization said it was looking into the matter and asked for details.

It commented: "We understand the citizens' anger about incidents like this, which is why we take action against those responsible for environmental offenses."

A recent study discovered efforts to tackle significant environmental offenses have been "severely neglected" even though the issue growing more extensive and more sophisticated.

A parliamentary committee suggested an autonomous "comprehensive" inquiry into how "endemic" environmental offenses is tackled.