Notorious 22,705 ton illegal Kidlington waste dump cleared

The 150-metre-long trail of waste was deposited in a field by the A34 last year, prompting widespread outrage, a criminal investigation and the Environment Agency (EA) declaring it a critical incident in November.

The watchdog has since co-ordinated the clean-up operation, with contractors starting to remove up to 30 lorry loads of rubbish each day in April.

Over five months, teams from Acumen Waste Service removed around 22,705 tonnes of rubbish, with the operation costing an estimated £6 million.

They dug up and shifted waste including tyres, shredded plastic and household waste from an 8,000sq metre area, which is bigger than Wembley Stadium.

Concrete blocks have been placed at the entrance, and the main gate has been securely padlocked to prevent access to the site, officials said.

Oxfordshire County Council described the clearing as “a great relief”. It said: “The news that this huge pile of illegal waste has been removed will come as a great relief to the residents of the Kidlington area and Oxfordshire as a whole.

“Our officers and fire and rescue crews worked closely with the Environment Agency throughout this process, and we would like to thank them for their incredible efforts in cleaning up the site. We believe it was the right decision to fast-track this operation because of the size, scale, and location of the site – next to a river and the A34 – and the dangers and disruption a potential fire there would have created.

“We are also pleased that the government is looking at more effective ways to tackle the organised crime gangs carrying out this illegal waste dumping on an industrial scale.”

Illegal Kidlington waste dump near A34 cleared in £6 million five-month operation (Image: Ed Nix)

The operation comes as part of a wider Government crackdown on illegal tips after a surge in organised waste crime across the country in recent years.

Rogue actors who dump waste illegally or fail to treat it correctly set to face fines of up to £5,000, up from the current maximum of £300. Those responsible for serious offences can already face much tougher sanctions, including prosecution and imprisonment.

Through the EA’s 10 Point Plan on Waste Crime, they will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action. This includes suspending or revoking permits, making greater use of restriction notices, and naming and shaming illegal waste operators.

Kidlington waste dump near A34 cleared in £6m five-month operation (Image: Ed Nix)

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “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.

“By putting more officers on the frontline and using drones to catch offenders in the act, we’re putting the criminal gangs on notice that there is nowhere left to hide.”

The EA shut down the Kidlington site in October 2025, with a decision taken on December 11 to clear the rubbish amid the risk of fire breaking out.

There had also been concerns that pollution from the tip could spill into the nearby River Cherwell, prompting officials to install barriers to protect the waterway.

Water quality sampling was regularly taken at the site but found no evidence of a significant impact on the local environment, officials said.

Up to 30 lorry loads were cleared every day for five months (Image: EA)

The EA’s criminal investigation has seen four people arrested, although officials said they will pursue those responsible for the money as its investigation develops.

Philip Duffy, chief executive of the regulator, said: “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.

“Dumping like this needs to be stopped in the first place.

“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.”

Anyone with information on this crime, which may assist the investigation, is being encouraged to call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or their website.