Notorious Kidlington dump fully cleared after major crackdown
More than 22,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste have now been removed from Oxfordshire site
Residents in Kidlington will no longer have to live alongside one of the country’s most notorious illegal waste sites, after a major government-backed operation has seen the site fully cleared.
The illegal waste site, that was larger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium, sat on land near the A34 and was shut down by officers in October 2025, after criminals were found to have dumped waste there.
Announced today (Thursday 27 August 2026) by the Environment Agency, the clean-up operation has seen an estimated 22,105 tonnes of commercial and household waste, including tyres, shredded plastic, and household rubbish, fully dug up and removed from the site.
Concrete blocks have also now been placed at the entrance preventing access, with the main gate now securely padlocked.
Under the Prime Minister’s crackdown on waste crime, the government and Environment Agency are working together to ensure serious, organised criminal gangs have nowhere to hide.
The government has also committed to cleaning up some of the country’s most egregious illegal waste sites, including Bolton House Road in Wigan and Midland Road in Bradford. These sites were prioritised on scale, risk to nearby communities, environmental damage, and links to persistent non-compliance and organised waste crime.
Greater use of drones, a bigger role for Mayors and the police, more EA officers on the frontline, and a dramatic rise in fines will deter and punish those who dump illegally. Alongside this, a new Waste Crime Crackdown Group, chaired by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, will bring regulators and law enforcement together to dismantle criminal operations and deliver results.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said:
Communities deserves 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.
Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, 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.
During our Operation Unite, we revoked or suspended 17 permits and we have further operations planned throughout the Autumn, making use of new powers and resources the government has provided.
The Environment Agency continues to progress its criminal investigation into the illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington. Four people have already been arrested, which is a vital step towards securing justice for the local community.
As part of the Prime Minister’s crackdown, the government is also giving the Environment Agency stronger powers to tackle waste crime. 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.
This government will ensure that criminals pay for their actions. Under their plans, the Environment Agency’s capacity to hunt down and confiscate the cash, cars, houses, and other assets bought with the proceeds of waste crime will grow, and new powers in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be used to speed up enforcement of confiscation orders.
Through the Environment Agency’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.
Water quality sampling has been regularly taken at the site to check for any potential significant impact. However, there has been no evidence of impacts to the local environment.
The Environment Agency urges anyone with information that may assist the Kidlington investigation to call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060. Alternatively, the public can report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or their website.