Natural Resources Wales (NRW) remains committed to ensuring that site operator RML takes all necessary steps to minimise the risk of future emissions from the site that could result in offsite odour from Withyhedge Landfill.

NRW has received draft documentation from RML outlining proposed improvements to their waste acceptance procedures. This information is being reviewed by our industry regulation teams, to ensure the recommencement of waste disposal activities happens in a way to minimise the risk of further odour issues.

Last week, NRW met with RML to discuss the proposed updated procedures in principle. Comments on the detail of the draft document will be shared with RML in due course.

NRW recognises that restarting waste acceptance operations may be concerning to communities affected previously. When operations resume, NRW will have a significant site presence and be undertaking routine off-site odour monitoring to ensure compliance with the updated procedures and the broader conditions of the landfill permit.  

This will be supported by all partners from the Incident Management Team (IMT) - Public Health Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board - with on-going air quality monitoring and public health risk assessments.

The IMT will endeavour to provide information to affected communities in the lead up to the landfill re-opening for waste acceptance, or in the very early phases of this change to site operations.

On Thursday 5 December the IMT is planning to hold a drop-in session between 3-7pm.

The focus will be on the future operations of the landfill, in particular the recommencement of waste acceptance for disposal by RML (the timing of which is still to be confirmed) and measures that the company are putting in place to avoid the recurrence of the odour issues caused by the site late last year and earlier this year.

In advance of the event, further information will be shared and the drop-in session will represent a chance for representatives from Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales, the Local Authority and Hywel Dda University Health Board to answer any questions you may have.

Public Health Wales is continuing to evaluate air quality data, to improve our understanding of the potential for harm to health of people living around Withyhedge landfill site.

The latest health risk assessment is now available on Public Health Wales' website.