Environment Agency officers have successfully intervened to prevent the suspected illegal burying of waste at a golf course in Oxford.
Bags of old fertiliser and containers of chemicals and hydrocarbon fluids were found partially buried in a large hole in the grounds of Hinksey Heights Golf Course in South Hinksey, Oxford.
Environment Agency officers were tipped off about the dumping by a member of the public who called the agency’s Pollution Incident Hotline. A man has been questioned in relation to the suspected offence. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Environment Agency officer, Manna Wan, said: “We had excellent information provided by the public that allowed us to act quickly and effectively to stop this illegal disposal of waste. The public are our eyes and ears and we would like to thank the public for reporting this illegal activity to us.”
An agency spokesperson said uncontrolled burying of certain waste substances could have a detrimental affect on the environment, including contaminating land and polluting aquifers or streams. There is also a risk to future workers who may excavate the land.
Concentrated fertilizer disposed of by illegally dumping can also be a source of pollution to groundwater or to surface water draining into rivers and is classed as hazardous waste.
