All river stakeholders, including the Environment Agency and Cherwell District Council, are being urged to work together in a swift manner to prevent a massive illegal waste dump from being washed into the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, according to environmental charity Thames21.
A shocking illegal rubbish dump, stretching over 100 metres long, 20 metres wide, and 10 metres high, has been discovered in a field beside the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
It is not clear who has dumped the enormous mound of shredded plastic waste, but it is believed to have been dumped by an organised crime group or groups.
The field where the dump is located floods regularly, prompting serious concern from Thames21 that tonnes of plastic could soon be washed directly into the River Cherwell and on into the River Thames, polluting hundreds of miles of waterways and damaging ecosystems for generations to come.
The site was first discovered on 10th September by a member of a local angling club. The site went undetected for months despite being located just one kilometre from the headquarters of Thames Valley Police. The issue has been reported to the Environment Agency. Thames21 urges the regulator to speed up action to make sure that the waste is prevented from spreading into the river.
Satellite imagery shows that the illegal dump developed gradually over the summer of 2025, largely hidden from view behind hedgerows and trees, and shielded from passing motorists on the nearby A34.
Thames21 is calling on the Environment Agency and local councils to act urgently to work together to secure and remove the waste before winter rains cause catastrophic plastic pollution.
“This is one of the most distressing cases of environmental neglect we’ve seen on the River Cherwell, if not in all of Oxfordshire” said Claire Robertson, Oxford Rivers Project Officer at Thames21. “If this waste isn’t contained, every storm and flood, will carry fragments of this plastic further downstream — poisoning wildlife, suffocating habitats, and leaving a legacy of pollution that could last thousands of years. We need swift, coordinated action now — before it’s too late.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Specialist officers are investigating waste dumped near the A34 at Kidlington. Their role will be to find who left the waste there and take appropriate action.
“We share the public’s anger about incidents like this, which is why we take action against those responsible for waste crime. Anyone with information here, or if they suspect waste crime elsewhere, can call the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 807060.”
Organised waste crime and large-scale fly-tipping are on the rise across the UK. National charity Keep Britain Tidy is urging the public to help combat the issue by ensuring anyone they hire to remove waste can provide a valid Waste Carrier Registration Number, which can be checked on the Environment Agency’s public register. Consumers are also encouraged to ask for a receipt for all waste removal services.
