Fly-tippers submerge field in enormous heap of waste
Witness
Fly-tippers have discarded a mountain of rubbish in a rural area in Oxfordshire.
The "ecological disaster developing in full view" is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.
The huge mound has been discovered in a plot of land alongside the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.
Parliament representative raised the situation in parliament, stating it was "threatening an environmental disaster".
An environmental charity stated the unauthorized rubbish dump was established about a few weeks back by an criminal network.
"This represents an environmental crisis unfolding in public view.
"Every day that elapses increases the risk of hazardous seepage entering the river system, poisoning wildlife and endangering the wellbeing of the entire river basin.
"The Environment Agency must act promptly, not in months or years, which is their standard response period."
A restriction order had been established by the environmental authorities.
It is difficult to identify any specific pieces of rubbish as it seems to have been broken up with earth blended.
A portion of the waste from the uppermost part of the pile has toppled and is now merely five metres from the stream.
The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which means it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Parliament TV
The MP requested the government for assistance to eliminate the illegal site before it triggered a fire or was swept into the river system.
Addressing parliament members on Thursday, he stated: "Lawbreakers have discarded a massive amount of unlawful polymer rubbish... totaling hundreds of tonnes, in my district on a water-adjacent land next to the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are increasing and temperature readings show that the garbage is also warming, raising the risk of blaze.
"Regulatory body reported it has limited funding for enforcement, that the projected price of removal is greater than the complete twelve-month allocation of the regional government."
Cabinet member commented the government had assumed responsibility for a failing recycling sector that had created an "growing issue of unauthorized fly-tipping".
She informed representatives the agency had issued a access ban to halt further entry to the area.
In a declaration, the authority said it was examining the matter and appealed for information.
It said: "We share the citizens' frustration about incidents like this, which is why we intervene against those culpable for waste crime."
A recently published report discovered initiatives to address serious waste crime have been "critically under-prioritised" even though the issue becoming bigger and more advanced.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee suggested an separate "comprehensive" examination into how "widespread" environmental offenses is dealt with.