Illegal dumpers submerge countryside in mountain of rubbish
Local resident
Waste criminals have dumped a mountain of garbage in a open space in Oxfordshire.
The "environmental catastrophe unfolding in full view" is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) high.
The huge pile has appeared in a plot of land alongside the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
Elected official brought up the issue in parliament, saying it was "posing risk of an ecological catastrophe".
Conservation group said the unlawful garbage pile was formed about a recently by an illegal operation.
"This constitutes an environmental crisis taking place in public view.
"Daily that passes raises the risk of toxic seepage getting into the waterways, poisoning wildlife and threatening the health of the entire catchment.
"The Environment Agency must take action immediately, not in months or years, which is their usual response period."
Access ban had been put in place by the regulatory body.
It is challenging to recognize any specific bits of garbage as it looks to have been pulverized with dirt mixed in.
Some of the rubbish from the top of the heap has collapsed and is now only five feet from the river.
The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which means it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Government broadcast
The representative requested the authorities for help to clear the unauthorized dump before it resulted in a inferno or was washed away into the river system.
Informing parliament members on Thursday, he stated: "Lawbreakers have discarded a mountain of unlawful plastic waste... weighing many tons, in my constituency on a floodplain adjacent to the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are increasing and thermal imaging demonstrate that the waste is also warming, increasing the risk of fire.
"Regulatory body reported it has limited resources for compliance, that the anticipated expense of disposal is greater than the complete yearly budget of the regional government."
Environment minister commented the authorities had assumed responsibility for a failing waste industry that had created an "widespread problem of unlawful dumping".
She advised MPs the agency had issued a access ban to prevent additional entry to the area.
In a announcement, the agency confirmed it was investigating the situation and asked for details.
It said: "We acknowledge the citizens' anger about incidents like this, which is why we respond against those accountable for waste crime."
A recently published study discovered attempts to address serious environmental offenses have been "extremely under-prioritised" notwithstanding the problem growing larger and more sophisticated.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee suggested an independent "thorough" examination into how "widespread" illegal dumping is tackled.
