Illegal dumpers submerge open land in massive pile of waste
Witness
Waste criminals have discarded a massive amount of garbage in a rural area in Oxfordshire.
The "ecological disaster developing in plain sight" is up to 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) tall.
The enormous mound has appeared in a open area next to the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
A local MP raised the problem in parliament, declaring it was "threatening an ecological catastrophe".
Protection organization reported the unauthorized waste site was formed approximately a month ago by an organised crime group.
"This constitutes an environmental catastrophe developing in public view.
"Daily that passes elevates the risk of hazardous drainage getting into the river system, contaminating wildlife and putting at risk the health of the entire river basin.
"Regulatory bodies must act promptly, not in months or years, which is their typical response period."
Access ban had been implemented by the environmental authorities.
It is hard to distinguish any individual pieces of rubbish as it looks to have been broken up with dirt blended.
Some of the rubbish from the top of the heap has toppled and is now merely five feet from the river.
The River Cherwell is a branch of the River Thames, which signifies it runs through Oxford before joining the Thames.
Parliament TV
The MP asked the administration for help to remove the illegal tip before it resulted in a inferno or was washed away into the aquatic system.
Addressing elected representatives on Thursday, he declared: "Lawbreakers have deposited a massive amount of unauthorized synthetic materials... totaling substantial weight, in my electoral area on a riverside area next to the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are increasing and thermal imaging indicate that the rubbish is also increasing in temperature, increasing the danger of blaze.
"Environmental authorities stated it has limited resources for regulation, that the projected cost of clearance is higher than the entire annual allocation of the municipal authority."
Cabinet member commented the administration had assumed responsibility for a underperforming disposal business that had caused an "epidemic of unauthorized fly-tipping".
She told representatives the authority had implemented a prohibition notice to halt more admission to the area.
In a statement, the agency confirmed it was investigating the matter and requested for details.
It stated: "We share the citizens' concern about situations like this, which is why we intervene against those accountable for waste crime."
A recently published investigation discovered efforts to combat major waste crime have been "severely neglected" notwithstanding the situation becoming larger and more advanced.
Government advisors suggested an separate "comprehensive" examination into how "endemic" waste crime is dealt with.
