Photographs obtained by Sky News appear to show tonnes of rubbish being dumped at what is understood to be the UK's newest large-scale illegal waste site - despite an ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency.
The huge dump - amounting to tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish - sits right next to the M25, south east of Epping in Stapleford Tawny.
The Environment Agency says it began an investigation in February 2025, but, despite this, the site remains open - and images show a lorry spilling waste at the dump on Friday 6 February.
The images were captured last week by a local man - who does not want to be named - who stopped because the lorry was stuck in mud.
"A massive lorry, 40-foot long - I thought the guy was in trouble, so I thought I'd try to help," he said.
"I went round the back, and I saw rubbish spewing out from the back of the cab, so I was a bit concerned."
The man called 999.
Essex Police confirmed that they had arrested a 55-year-old from Horley in Surrey and a 25-year-old from Mullaghbawn in County Armagh.
The lorry, two mobile phones and a laptop were seized as evidence.
Read more from Sky News:
Two arrested for illegally dumping waste at six sites
What it's like to live next to a 25,000-tonne illegal dump
Satellite imagery analysed by Sky News shows the land in October 2024, when it was green and full of trees.
On 19 September last year, there is clear activity at the site, with possible dumping taking place in the top-left corner of the site.
Now the seven-acre site is completely covered in waste, buried several metres deep.
There are major environmental concerns.
The rubbish tumbles down into a small tributary that runs into the River Roding, which feeds the River Thames.
Paul Powlesland, from the River Roding Trust, said: "It's absolutely heartbreaking to see the sheer scale of this illegal waste dump. I've seen a few waste dumps in my time, and this is definitely one of the worst.
"The landfill is literally going into the tributaries, and then, within 100m, that goes straight into the River Roding, London's third biggest river. So whatever is in here, the rainfall, we've been having a lot recently, will go through it, pick up those toxins and go into the groundwater."
Sky News understands the Environment Agency is urgently seeking a restriction order to close the site down - and is continuing to gather further evidence.
Barry Russell from the Environment Agency, said: "I share the public's anger at waste crime, where those responsible have no care for the environment.
"Thanks to the person who rang 999, and the quick work of Essex Police, my environmental crime team are using the arrests and seizures to continue investigating this suspected illegal waste dump."
(c) Sky News 2026: This shocking illegal M25 waste site has kept on growing - despite an Environment Agency investiga
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