NRW asked for urgent action as landfill smell still “overwhelming during the day”

“Immediate and effective action” is required to resolve the Hafod landfill site issues once and for all.

The area has been plagued with a hydrogen sulfide style smell – or rotten / off eggs odour with the issue itself dating back years

Cllr David A Bithell, who represents Johnstown & Pant, has now published a letter he has written to Natural Resource Wales following ongoing issues at the Johnstown landfill site.

Cllr Bithell relates the impact the ongoing odour has on local residents and asks for NRW to take urgent action.

Meetings have taken place with representatives from Enovert, which operates the site with a statutory notice issued under the environmental permitting regulations 2016 and on 21 December 2023 by Natural Resources Wales to Enovert.

Natural Resources Wales considered that conditions including leachate levels, landfill gas and odour were being contravened.

The notice followed a period of six months of numerous complaints from residents to Natural Resources Wales affecting the lives of local people and the surrounding areas. More complaints followed during May 2024.

In April Hafod site operators Enovert have said “it had taken concerns on board” after further representations over bad smells were been made.

It appears despite ‘constructive meetings’ the matter is unresolved.

The matter is set to come before local councillors later this year for examination,

The letter sent is below:

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding the persistent and unpleasant odor emanating from the landfill site located in Johnstown. Residents have been experiencing significant discomfort due to the strong stench that has been lingering in the area for an extended period. You will recall the enforcement notice issued in December last year.

Despite previous complaints and the acknowledgment of the issue by the relevant authorities, the situation remains unresolved, negatively impacting the quality of life for residents in the vicinity. The odor is particularly overwhelming during the day making it difficult to enjoy outdoor activities, and, in some cases, even forcing residents to keep windows closed.

I kindly request that Natural Resources Wales takes immediate and effective action to address this issue. It is imperative that the source of the odor is identified and that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate it. This could involve stricter regulation and monitoring of the landfill site’s operations or the implementation of odor control technologies.

The health and well-being of the local community are at stake, and I urge you to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. We are relying on NRW to ensure that environmental regulations are enforced, and that the residents of Johnstown can once again enjoy a clean and pleasant living environment.

I would appreciate it if you could provide an update on the steps being taken to resolve this issue and any timeline for when the problem might be fully addressed. I am encouraging people to complain to the NRW hotline number.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

David

Johnstown & Pant councillor