Two men have been arrested in connection with the illegal dumping of a massive waste site in Oxfordshire. The site, described as a "mountain of illegal waste" and stacked as high as 10 metres, was discovered in a field near Kidlington, between the River Cherwell and the A34, in November of last year. The cleanup operation, which lasted five months and ended last month, involved removing an estimated 22,704 tonnes of rubbish at a cost of £6 million. This included the removal of materials such as building waste, household items, and other debris that had been illegally dumped. The Environment Agency (EA), which is responsible for environmental protection in England, confirmed the arrest of a 21-year-old man from Ashford in Surrey and a 43-year-old man from Stanwell in Surrey. This brings the total number of people arrested in connection with the site to six. Earlier arrests took place in February, January, and November of this year. The site was closed in October after officers found evidence of ongoing criminal activity, following an initial report of illegal dumping in July 2025. The EA described the dumping as "abhorrent" and said it showed no regard for the local community. They emphasized that the cleanup was necessary because the waste posed a significant fire risk. Normally, the EA does not clear illegal waste dumps, but in this case, they made an exception due to the large amount of waste and the potential danger it posed. The cleanup costs were to be covered by making operational efficiencies within the agency, while the taxpayer would also be responsible for the landfill tax on the waste. The illegal dumping occurred despite the EA monitoring the site after being alerted to suspicious activity. The two men arrested have been released on conditional bail while further investigations continue. The case highlights the challenges faced by environmental authorities in dealing with large-scale illegal waste dumping and the financial and safety risks involved.