Latest news with #Enovert
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Wrexham residents issue plea to address Hafod landfill site
"The current environmental permit allows for operations until 2062. That is 37 more years of emissions, odour, monitoring failures, and broken promises. For a community that has already endured 18 years, this is not just a timeline; it is a sentence. "It means our children will grow up in its shadow, and their children may too. Every year that passes without action compounds the harm. The psychological toll, the reputational damage (Stinky Johnstown), the devaluation of property, and the disintegration of community cohesion will not repair themselves. The permit must be revoked before more irreversible damage is done. "The time for patience has passed. Our community needs clarity, honesty, and decisive action. We have endured this reality for 19 years. We cannot survive another 37. Please, help us bring this nightmare to an end, once and for all." An overview of Hafod landfill site (Image: Google Maps) Enovert stated that the Hafod site has planning consent for the acceptance of waste until April 7 2055. A spokesperson said: "Enovert continues to provide accurate and verifiable data regarding the environmental performance of the Hafod site to the regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW). This includes reporting of the data required by the site's environmental permit and will now also include results and independent review of air quality monitoring as recently implemented. "Enovert has written to the Senedd Petitions Committee to offer its attendance before the committee to answer questions about our operations and to provide the latest detail of ongoing actions at Hafod considering the public interest. We can also provide visibility of Enovert's responses to Compliance Assessment Reports, (CAR Forms) raised by NRW when they inspect the site, the detail of which is not available on the public register and should be considered in assessing permit compliance and our approach as Operator to ensuring protection of the environment and community health." James McClymont, Team Leader of Industry & Waste Regulation for Natural Resources Wales, said: 'We continue to monitor progress at Hafod Landfill closely, including carrying out unannounced inspections. Thanks to improvement work by the site operator, there has been a steady drop in odour complaints, though we recognise that some people are still being affected. 'In recent months, we've updated both the Deputy First Minister and Wrexham County Borough Council on our regulatory work. We've also taken part in the first Hafod Landfill Stakeholder Group meeting and attended the latest Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee. MOST READ: Planning application submitted for huge new housing development in Wrexham Jealous thug headbutted ex after 'asking about her sex life with new man' Wrexham man to hike mountain range - carrying fridge freezer! 'We remain committed to holding the site operator to account and ensuring action is taken where needed. Further improvements are planned, including enhanced gas extraction and leachate management. 'Preliminary air quality data from monitoring units set up by Wrexham Council and the site operator is being reviewed. Early findings show that recognised odour annoyance thresholds have been exceeded at times, but more work is needed to understand the causes. 'We will continue to work with partners to ensure the operator takes the necessary steps to reduce odours and protect local people and the environment.' Wrexham Council were approached for a comment.
Leader Live
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Hafod landfill campaigner criticises lack of enforcement over smell
Earlier this month councillors told Hafod landfill operator Enovert to 'get it right or shut it' at a meeting of Wrexham's Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee - but council officers insisted that the environmental permit issued and regulated by Natural Resources Wales held Enovert to account and further enforcement action would not resolve the problem for residents. Now one campaigner has sent an open letter to the council criticising officers' unwillingness to act over a problem that has blighted the surrounding communities for almost 20 years. Steve Gittins said the council had a 'moral responsibility' to take action to protect residents and end the odour problem at Hafod. "Wrexham Council has both the legal authority and the moral responsibility to act," he wrote. "Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have the power to issue abatement notices in cases of statutory nuisance. "These powers are not contingent upon NRW's actions, nor are they negated by them. In fact, where one regulator is perceived to be failing, it becomes all the more critical that another steps in." During the committee meeting Ian Jones, Head of Service for Public Protection at Wrexham Council told councillors the NRW environmental permit was designed to regulate Enovert's activity - meaning any statutory notice from the council would effectively be a double-regulation that could lead to a legal challenge. "We theoretically get into a position where one organisation is being dealt with by two legal processes," he said. "That is not right and the courts wouldn't look favourably on that. "So the key thing for us - and the advice we get from Welsh Government and UK Government - is to use the permitting process. It is a better and more defined process for enforcement and addressing the matter than statutory nuisance notices." But in his letter Mr Gittins called the officers' claims into question, citing a specific example where a council in England had recently taken action in similar circumstances. "The response by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to the long-running crisis at Walley's Quarry offers a clear and successful precedent," he wrote. "In 2021, the council independently issued an abatement notice despite the Environment Agency's jurisdiction. "That notice was upheld following mediation and became enforceable in 2023. The Environment Agency then issued a closure notice in 2024. Together, these actions brought tangible relief to the affected community. Wrexham Council should do no less. "The truth is plainly visible to anyone who chooses to look honestly. Yet those in power seem more intent on preserving illusion than confronting the facts." Read more: 'Get it right or shut it' - councillors issue ultimatum to Hafod landfill operators 'End nightmare caused by Hafod refuse tip smell' Frustrated residents turn out in numbers to protest ongoing Hafod landfill issue In response to the letter Councillor Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council's Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Public Protection, said: 'We are working closely with NRW, site operators and local community councils to monitor and mitigate off-site odour issues for local residents, and we continue to support Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the measures it has put in place with regards to the Hafod landfill site. 'The council undertook a review of legislative enforcement options towards the end of last year, including the likelihood of the site operator being able to appeal against or defend any legislative action taken by the council – especially given the fact it already faces enforcement action from NRW, and further action by the council might be seen as unnecessary by the courts. 'Legal processes and court actions can be very long, and so we have to consider enforcement action very carefully before going down that route. Our primary focus is to support NRW and Enovert in reducing the odour emission from the site in a timely manner for the benefit of the local community. We are aware there have been cases in other parts of the UK where councils have taken action against landfill site operators – some of the circumstances have been quite different and we recognise the available option should it be required. 'As a result, we'll continue to work closely with NRW, Enovert and other members of the Hafod landfill stakeholder group, with a view to supporting our communities and ensuring continued progress.'
BBC News
29-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wrexham: Hafod landfill smell prompts calls for action
Action needs to be taken to reduce the smell around a landfill site or it should be shut down, Wrexham councillors have near Johnstown has been under additional monitoring for six months after complaints of a "rotten egg" smell from residents.A new report has shown while there are fluctuating hydrogen sulphide levels at the site – the gas responsible for the smell – they are not enough to cause significant one specialist at Public Health Wales said some levels detected in communities nearby may be enough to cause runny eyes and a sore operators Enovert described the data as a "snapshot" and said odour management was an active process. During lockdown people living in the area said the "horrendous" smell from the landfill became "unbearable" after a fire at the site in May 2020. Enovert were issued with a statutory notice by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in December 2023 for breaching its environmental the company said it had taken "all appropriate measures to comply", more than 300 complaints were raised about the landfill site between October 2023 and August have now been placed around the site and in areas where most complaints have been Tuesday, Wrexham council's homes and environment scrutiny committee members said they remained concerned about a lack of a clear timeline from Enovert to resolve the smell, which has been an issue for 18 years."The people have suffered enough," said Ponciau councillor Paul Pemberton. Pemberton said the situation was improving but he worried the council would be sitting in 10 years "still talking about the same thing"."Everybody needs to pull their fingers out quicker than they already have to hopefully make the situation better. Either get it right or shut it." The first of a new monitoring report of the site confirmed about 23% of the time the smell reaches a level where people can detect highest level of hydrogen sulphide recorded was 17.97 parts per billion (ppb). The safe exposure limit is between 10,000 and 20, on 547 occasions the level of gas in the air exceeded 4ppb – the level at which 50% of people notice the smell it James from PHW told councillors it may be enough to cause what is classed as nuisance irritation – with some people experiencing runny eyes and a sore throat."I'd like to propose that if the data continues to show breaches in the levels of hydrogen sulphide, that we as a council look at taking enforcement action," said Queensway councillor Carrie said Wrexham council, NRW and Welsh ministers had the power to act on the issue. "No-one has been willing to step up and defend these communities. I don't think it's any surprise frustration is building." Enhanced monitoring will continue across other affected communities in the coming months and an update will be brought back to committee members in six last year it was confirmed there had been an increase in waste dumped at the site, in particular from Liverpool, with 37% of all waste at the site being from Craven, Enovert's regional manager, described the data in the report as a "snapshot" and said it needed to look at a longer period of time to factor in the weather and background sources of hydrogen said the first full month of enhanced monitoring has shown intermittent spikes in the smell level, adding the company was keen to trap all the gas it could."As with all landfill sites of this type, the management of odours is an active process which requires us to respond to developing site and weather conditions," he said. "The open nature of site operations means there can be occasions where odour is a risk. We have always rapidly responded to any opportunity to make improvements."
North Wales Live
29-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'Nobody has been willing' to defend communities hit by landfill stench
Swift action needs to be taken to reduce the odour around Hafod landfill site or the site should be shut according to Wrexham councillors. The first report on the extent of the odour problem at Hafod landfill site – which has seen complaints drawn from Johnstown, Ruabon, Ponciau and Rhostyllen since October – was welcomed by Wrexham councillors on Tuesday. But members of Wrexham's Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee remained concerned about the lack of a clear timeline from Hafod landfill operator Enovert to resolve the stench, which has been an issue for residents for 18 years. 'The people have suffered enough,' said Ponciau councillor Paul Pemberton. "We have everyone around the table now and we are improving, I'm not denying that – but it worries me that we will be sitting here in two, three, four, five or 10 years time still talking about the same thing. Everybody needs to pull their fingers out quicker than they already have to hopefully make the situation better. Either get it right or shut it.' Committee members received a report by Wrexham Council's Public Protection department, Natural Resources Wales and Enovert. It presented the first month of data from the new monitoring process put in place following a spike in complaints last October. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Following pressure from the public and local members to get rid of the smell, Wrexham Council launched a strategy to gather data from around the landfill site to identify the source and tackle the problem once and for all. Sensors have been placed around the landfill site and in the communities where most complaints have been received. They showed that while there are fluctuating levels of hydrogen sulphide – the gas responsible for the smell – they are not enough to cause significant harm. Kristian James, Principal Environmental Public Health Specialist at Public Health Wales did tell councillors that levels of hydrogen sulphide detected in communities near Hafod landfill site may be enough to cause what is classed as nuisance irritation – with some people experiencing runny eyes and a sore throat. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox According to Enovert's Regional Manager (North) Ian Craven, the first full month of enhanced monitoring has shown intermittent spikes in the smell level – and he added that the company was keen to trap all the gas it could. Selling gas given off by waste into the power grid as a fuel source is the primary revenue source for the site. 'The data in this report is a snapshot and we need to look at a longer period of time because we need to factor in weather and background sources of hydrogen sulphide,' he said. 'We accept non-hazardous waste for disposal and use the landfill gas to generate renewable energy. "As with all landfill sites of this type, the management of odours is an active process which requires us to respond to developing site and weather conditions. The open nature of site operations means there can be occasions where odour is a risk. We have always rapidly responded to any opportunity to make improvements.' As monitoring began Enovert was already making changes to the site, installing new pipework to draw in gases and funnel them into gas engines which convert the gas into electricity. These have not resolved the issue however and more needs to be done to understand why the smell is so strong, the meeting heard. Working in partnership with Wrexham Council and NRW to look into the smell issue and potential solutions meets the requirements of Enovert's operating permit – but some councillors felt a harder approach was needed. 'I'd like to propose that if the data continues to show breaches in the levels of hydrogen sulphide, that we as a council look at taking enforcement action,' said Queensway councillor and deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group Cllr Carrie Harper. 'The council has the power to issue an abatement notice for odour as a statutory nuisance and based on the evidence here that notice would be legally enforceable. What's so frustrating for residents is the fact they have been putting up with issues at this site for the last 18 years. They feel there's a lot of buck-passing in terms of enforcement. 'Wrexham Council has the power to act, NRW has the power to act, Welsh Ministers have the power to act but we saw at the Senedd Petitions Committee this week that Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies refused to do anything. No-one has been willing to step up and defend these communities. I don't think it's any surprise frustration is building.' Enhanced monitoring will continue and expand across other affected communities in the coming months. As more data is gathered, all agencies involved hope to build a picture of what increases the smell and how best to minimise it.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Disgusting' landfill smells 'cannot continue'
The "disgusting" odours coming from a landfill site that residents have said smells like rotten eggs must be brought to an end, a Member of the Senedd has said. Ken Skates, Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South, has been campaigning over the Hafod tip in Johnstown, Wrexham, which residents have long complained about. "Enough is enough - it can't carry on," said Skates, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it "understands the significant concern" and was monitoring the landfill "closely". Enovert, which runs the site, has been approached for comment but had previously said it was operating according to its permit from NRW. Landfill stench putting residents off their dinner Village blighted by rotten egg landfill odour The people locked down with 'vile landfill smell' Skates said the "situation is getting worse rather than better", describing the smell as "disgusting". An enforcement notice was issued to Enovert in December 2023 over breaches of its environmental permit, which included odour and landfill gas management requirements. It ruled that the company had failed to manage levels of leachate - polluted liquid that drains from landfill. Enovert said it would work with NRW on an agreed action plan. Skates has been campaigning alongside local councillor David Bithell, and said he and Mr Bithell had previously met with Enovert management to discuss the concerns. "The meeting felt constructive, but we made it clear that we wanted to see improvements to address local people's concerns. "But nothing seems to have changed since - certainly not in the eyes of my constituents in the affected communities," Skates said, adding that he had raised the issue with Welsh Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies. Lyndsey Rawlinson, from NRW, said it was "dedicating significant resources" to ensuring Enovert complied with its environmental permit requirements, and that an action plan was being developed. Ms Rawlinson said NRW only revoked permits "if we believe the operation poses a serious risk to the environment of human health" or if all other measures to reduce the odour have been exhausted". "At present the operators are still working through a number of actions to address the issues and we are regulating them closely," she said, adding that closing the site "would not immediately eliminate the odours". Landfill smell likened to 'stink bomb on steroids' 'Stink bomb' landfill work done but smell remains Urgent review ordered over 'stink bomb' landfill
