Fly-tippers bury countryside in massive pile of garbage
Witness
Illegal dumpers have discarded a huge quantity of rubbish in a field in Oxfordshire.
The "environmental catastrophe developing in full view" is around 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) tall.
The massive pile has materialized in a field next to the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.
A local MP highlighted the problem in parliament, stating it was "risking an environmental emergency".
Protection organization stated the unlawful waste site was created around a recently by an criminal network.
"This is an environmental crisis unfolding in public view.
"Each day that passes increases the risk of toxic run-off getting into the river system, poisoning wildlife and endangering the health of the complete watershed.
"The Environment Agency must act immediately, not in months or years, which is their usual response period."
Access ban had been implemented by the Environment Agency.
It is difficult to distinguish any specific bits of waste as it looks to have been broken up with earth combined.
Some of the waste from the uppermost part of the pile has collapsed and is now only five meters from the waterway.
The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which indicates it runs through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Government broadcast
The representative asked the administration for assistance to clear the illegal site before it resulted in a inferno or was swept into the water network.
Informing parliament members on Thursday, he stated: "Criminals have discarded a mountain of illegal plastic waste... amounting to hundreds of tonnes, in my electoral area on a riverside area adjacent to the River Cherwell.
"River levels are growing and temperature readings show that the waste is also warming, increasing the danger of combustion.
"Environmental authorities stated it has limited funding for compliance, that the projected expense of removal is greater than the complete yearly allocation of the municipal authority."
Environment minister stated the authorities had inherited a failing disposal business that had created an "epidemic of unauthorized fly-tipping".
She advised MPs the agency had served a restriction order to halt additional admission to the area.
In a statement, the agency confirmed it was looking into the matter and requested for evidence.
It stated: "We acknowledge the community's concern about occurrences like this, which is why we take action against those accountable for waste crime."
A newly released study found initiatives to combat major waste crime have been "extremely under-prioritised" even though the problem becoming more extensive and more complex.
A parliamentary committee proposed an autonomous "comprehensive" examination into how "prevalent" illegal dumping is addressed.
