Withyhedge Landfill: weekly update 31.05.24

Natural Resources Wales sent this bulletin at 31-05-2024 03:01 PM BST

Introduction

Welcome to the fifth edition of this weekly newsletter, which provides updates on actions being taken to address odour issues at Withyhedge Landfill in Pembrokeshire.

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Site visits

NRW officers have visited the landfill this week as part of our ongoing regulatory activity.

Gas wells that were installed during the capping of the last section of Cell 8 have now been connected to the gas abstraction network.

Pic caption: Remaining area of Cell 8 capping

Ongoing assessments

Our priority has always been to ensure the operator takes the action required to remediate the source of odours.

As well as conducting the assessments to determine compliance with our Enforcement Notices, we have been, and continue to, gather the information and evidence we will need to inform any future legal case.

We understand that some people may be feeling some frustration at the time being taken to complete our assessment processes. However, it is not unusual for these assessments to take a significant amount of time.

If breaches to permit conditions are considered to have taken place, then they may be subject to criminal sanctions. Failure to comply with a Notice is a separate offence. Given the risk of undermining any future enforcement of legal action, we are restricted on the amount of detail we are able to share publicly at this stage.

The use of further Notices or regulatory tools at Withyhedge Landfill is not impeded by the ongoing assessment of previous Regulation 36 Enforcement Notices.

Odour assessments

Since our previous update, we have seen a reduction in the number of odour complaints reported to us. While this could indicate that odour issues are easing, we are continuing to carry out odour assessments in the community, and it is crucial people continue to report odours to us when the issues are being encountered.

Community engagement

Our Head of South West Operations, Huwel Manley, and South West Operations Manager Caroline Drayton met with community representatives from Rudbaxton Community Council and members of Stop the Stink Withyhedge campaign group last week. The meeting provided an opportunity to update on actions being taken by NRW, and to address some of the most pressing questions from the community.

Pembrokeshire County Council renews legal pressure against RML

As part of the approach to jointly tackling the ongoing odour issues at Withyhedge, Pembrokeshire County Council this week confirmed that it is progressing with its legal challenge against site operator, RML.

An update from Public Health Wales

“Public Health Wales have reviewed the air quality monitoring data provided to us and our initial public health assessment of that data does not give us any reason to change our advice. That is, if residents experience odours from the landfill, closing windows and doors can help minimise odours; once the odour has passed, opening windows and doors again can help reduce any odours inside homes. Remember not to block windows or vents completely; this is because they provide air to vent cooking and heating appliances and to control damp.

“In line with the agreed multi-agency approach, our assessment is being shared with partners to help inform action and further advice going forward. We will continue to review monitoring data made available to us to support the ongoing assessment of health risk locally.

“In the interim, we recognise just how much of an impact the odours from the landfill continue to have on local communities and reiterate our call for urgent action to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Report a Smell

Odour reports continue to help us build a picture of when and where any odours are prevalent in the community. They also help us assess the impacts of the remedial action taken by the operator to date, and inform our response.

Please report odours at the time they are experienced.

You can do that via our dedicated form or by calling 0300 065 3000.

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