Illegal Waste Dump Clean-Up Concludes in Oxfordshire
Five-month operation near River Cherwell removes 22,704 tonnes of rubbish, costing £6 million, with four arrests made.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
A five-month clean-up operation of an illegal waste dump near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire has concluded.
The Environment Agency shut down the Kidlington site in October 2025, making the decision to clear the rubbish on December 11 due to significant fire risk. Concrete blocks now secure the entrance, and the main gate remains padlocked, preventing any future access.
Barriers were installed to protect the River Cherwell from potential pollution, though water quality sampling reportedly found no evidence of significant environmental impact. The Environment Agency's criminal investigation into the illegal operation has led to four arrests; these individuals have been bailed as the investigation continues.
We are very pleased that the clearance of this site has now been completed, and the EA has made a number of arrests as we pursue those responsible for this abhorrent offending.
The site clearance forms part of a wider government crackdown on organised waste crime, which includes clean-ups at five other illegal tips across England.
The Environment Agency estimates waste crime costs the UK economy around £1 billion every year. The Government intends to recover the cost of dealing with the site from those behind the illegal operation, with ministers promising tougher measures against waste crime, including efforts to confiscate offenders’ cash, property, and other assets.
New figures show efforts to recover money from convicted waste criminals have so far generated £7.3 million over the past five years. The Environment Agency issued 66 confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act between January 2021 and March 2026.
Communities deserve to be free from the blight of illegal waste dumping, and this clean-up shows we will bring hope back to local residents. After years of waste crime being allowed to fester, we are taking decisive action through our crackdown, and cleaning up sites like Kidlington is just one part.
Six more major sites have been identified for potential clearance using public money, as the Environment Agency continues its efforts. Philip Duffy emphasised, "Dumping like this needs to be stopped in the first place."
He further explained, "To do that we are going upstream, removing criminals and corruption from the waste system; improving the exchange of intelligence between agencies; and revoking the permits of those who do not take adequate care."