One Year since Re-opening
January 6th, 2026, marks the first-year anniversary of the re-opening of Withyhedge following a prolonged period of closure in 2024 to enable the completion of essential engineering works. The site is still closed to third-party inputs, but we anticipate being able to welcome those customers back during 2026.
In addition to considerable improvements made to the surface water management, the enhancement of the gas management infrastructure, and waste acceptance procedures in 2025 we have completed the initial phase of filling cell 9, and it has been temporarily capped. We have commenced tipping in the newly authorised cell 10.
We have commenced the initial groundworks to establish cell 11, but it is still very much in its infancy, completion is entirely weather dependant; the importation of clay, soil and stone for the construction continues.
RML have worked extensively with Natural Resources Wales and our technical partners to draft and introduce comprehensive and robust waste acceptance and testing procedures, and we are confident that there are no odours coming from the landfill. We are very pleased to see that the number of complaints submitted in regard to odours dramatically decreased between 2024 and 2026.
In collaboration with our technical partners, RML have adopted an entirely new and more efficient approach to filling the landfill by splitting the cells into smaller sub-cells, this enables us to fill, cap and install the gas extraction much earlier than would be usual. As a departure from usual practice, and in addition to the requirements of our permit, we are installing horizontal and pin gas wells into the cells as they are being filled as opposed to after being filled, this technique has greatly improved gas collection and reduces the risk of premature gas migration. The dramatic reduction of on-site odour and the increase in both gas and electricity yield testify to the success of this process.
During 2025 and as part of Withyhedge’ normal site compliance visits, the presence of odour was assessed and recorded in Compliance Assessment Reports (CAR Forms) by NRW; out of a total of 25 recordings, there were only 3 records of ‘mild odour’ on site. Agricultural odours are recognised and recorded on multiple occasions, but not a single one recorded the presence of any off-site odour originating from Withyhedge. This is supported by our own daily odour assessments.
Continuing into 2026, we have continued to monitor and gather air quality data from within the landfill boundary and local communities; our daily odour assessments have identified ongoing agricultural odours in the locality.
We are very satisfied that the enhanced measures we have implemented at the Withyhedge Landfill site have been effective. The issues previously referenced as the “stink bomb on steroids” have now been addressed and defused. We will continue to work closely with public agencies, technical specialists and fully support the ongoing independent odour monitoring of the area to ensure that these positive outcomes are maintained going forward.