EA 'not satisfied' with stinky landfill operator

The Environment Agency said it was aware problems had worsened for nearby homes

Environment Agency (EA) bosses are not satisfied a landfill operator is taking all necessary steps to put a stop to foul-smelling gas emissions, according to their latest update.

EA project executive Andrew Hitchings told residents in a video message that closing down Walleys Quarry in Newcastle-under-Lyme would be a ‘last resort’ after all other options had been exhausted.

He said the EA had raised concerns with the landfill operator and was aware the odour problem had worsened in recent weeks.

The operator said it disputed the accusations and was seeking legal advice.

Local residents have previously staged protests over the gas emissions at Walleys Quarry

Mr Hitchings, who is responsible for regulating the landfill site, said: “We have shared with Walleys Quarry our concern that it remains in [the lowest] compliance Band F and it appears no longer to be working towards achieving compliance in a timely manner.”

He added: “In order to issue a closure notice, the Environment Agency must be satisfied that there is a risk of serious long-term pollution or persistent non-compliance with permit conditions that suggest that an operator is not competent to manage the activity.”

He said the EA had carried out several inspections at the landfill site, on Cemetery Road, and further action was required to address uncontrolled gas emissions from the site’s tipping area and the lack of sufficient capping in parts of the landfill.

The EA has stepped up its inspections of the site following complaints from residents

Despite these concerns, he said the operator had now satisfactorily dealt with an enforcement order issued in October relating to capping on a section of the site which was found lacking.

Mr Hitchings said the EA would continue to keep its regulatory approach under review.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry Ltd said it disputed the Environment Agency’s findings and was consulting its legal team.

In a separate development, the Environment Agency also explained the cause for the agency’s failure to properly record the levels of gas emisisons at the site.

Mr Hitchings said the issue arose from a misunderstanding about how new hydrogen sulphide analysers should have been calibrated.

Staff thought the technique for calibrating the equipment was the same it used for previous kit, and this led to data which was gathered being unreliable.

Staff have since updated their procedures, he said, and were confident in data gathered since September 2023.