'Rotten stink' landfill site set to expand

Locals complained for years about foul smells, saying they had been left feeling sick

A landfill site plagued by complaints about a "rotten stink" is set to expand its operations.

The Environment Agency (EA), who oversee the operations of Valencia Waste Management on Pilsworth Road in Bury, said it was "minded to" approve a permit to increase the amount of waste allowed to be treated at the site.

Before the final decision is made it has launched a second public consultation on the capacity of a new mixed recycling, recently built at the landfill.

Locals complained for several years about foul smells, saying they had been left feeling sick, comparing the pong to the odour of "rotten meat".

Rochdale Borough Council has objected to the permit.

Issues raised by them included concerns regarding "operator competence" at the site, issues with air quality and worries about odour checks and potential discharge.

During the initial consultation there were 289 responses received from the public.

The EA said many objections included "concern over the impact from odour," but in the draft report the EA said: "We are satisfied that there will not be a significant impact from odour."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted Valencia Waste Management for a response.

In March 2024, Rochdale town hall leader Councillor Neil Emmott joined Bury Council leader Eamonn O'Brien and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in calling for the operator to be stripped of its licence after smell complaints rocketed.

The EA installed new monitoring facilities to track air quality around the site and later said there were no plans to remove Valencia's licence after action on odour was taken.

The consultation on the expansion runs until 4 July.