Waste ‘buried metres deep’ at illegal Kidlington site

Some 400 lorries full of waste have now contributed to the supersite’s removal alongside the A34.

Criminal gangs dumped a massive pile of shredded plastic, tyres, and household waste stretching 150m (490ft) long and up to 6m (20ft) deep—covering an area larger than a football pitch (approximately two acres).

Waste off the A34 by Kidlington (Image: Ed Nix)

At the southern part of the site, the area is narrower and more confined, meaning work is more complex and will take a “little more time”, the Environment Agency said in an update on progress.

“We have already removed more than 400 lorry loads of waste from the site,” a spokesman said. “This is an important step in reducing the risks to the surrounding area.

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“In the northern section, we have found pockets of buried waste, in some places up to two metres deep.

“We will remove this once the more accessible waste has been cleared, so we can continue to work at pace.

“We continue to monitor the site closely. Temperature probes show that conditions remain stable, which reduces the risk of fire.”

The Environment Agency has cordoned off the site (Image: Environment Agency)

Fears had been raised that the waste could potentially flow into the River Cherwell, but the Environment Agency insists this has been managed ever since it became aware of the site in July 2025.

“We are also sampling water from the River Cherwell every two weeks, where conditions allow,” the spokesman added. “This will continue until all the waste has been removed.

“The results so far show chemical levels similar to those found in other rivers across England. These are at very low levels and are not expected to cause harm to the environment.”

The major operation to clean up the mountain of waste began in mid-April and is expected to cost £7.3m, as per the contract with the Yorkshire-based firm tasked with the job.

But the Environment Agency has said it will look to claw back taxpayer’s money.

Specialist teams are working “at pace”, shifting around 15 to 30 lorry loads a day to clear the site and tackle the damage caused.

It’s expected the job will take around six months to complete.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the dump, including a 39‑year‑old man from the Guildford area, a 69‑year‑old in Andover, a 54‑year‑old from Slough and a 52‑year‑old from Ashford in Surrey.

The site is being treated as a live crime scene, with fencing and large sandbags installed between the waste pile and the river as protective measures.