WITHYHEDGE LANDFILL SITE UPDATE : 28 JUNE 2024
RML are pleased to confirm that progress on the construction of cell 9 is progressing to schedule and that the CQA for its approval is due to be submitted to the regulator imminently.
We will also be taking advantage of the extended site closure period to update our gas management equipment on site; this will enable the site to be more resilient to breakdowns and give increased capacity and efficiency to the gas collection network.
RML have consistently taken the lead in initiating air quality monitoring around the site and welcome the efforts currently being undertaken by PCC and NRW. To further support this ongoing initiative and the work of the independent specialist consultants already employed, RML will permanently introduce AQ Mesh monitors on-site. These new sensors, designed to continuously detect hydrogen sulfide and other VOC gases, will be placed at various locations around the site, with the information being shared with our partners.
We continue to work closely with NRW and will provide further updates on progress and re-opening dates when they are known.
STATEMENT RESPONSE: CHANNEL 4 DISPATCHES
Statement following Channel 4 Dispatches “Rubbish Tip Britain” first broadcast on Friday 21st June 2024
Dauson Environmental Group is extremely disappointed with the tone, context, and content of the Channel 4 Dispatches “Rubbish Tip Britain” despite providing comprehensive information to the Production Company before broadcast.
Dauson Environmental Group employs over 250 people across Wales and contributes around £50m every year to the Welsh economy. The value at the core of our business is to clean up the environment, and as a business we are committed to recycling, redevelopment, and regeneration and are proud to provide a significant contribution to the total amount of waste recycling in Wales.
Waste management, by its very nature, is a highly regulated industry. Dauson Environmental Group is committed to maintaining these high standards of environmental management and transparency. We therefore regularly and openly engage with Natural Resources Wales and other appropriate stakeholders.
Withyhedge Landfill Site
Since the purchase of the site in 2022, Dauson Environmental Group has invested over £5m at the site in order to make significant improvements. We are unable to comment on activities relating to the site prior to our ownership. This includes alleged receipt of hazardous medical waste.
We are confident that the issue of odour has been resolved. In consultation with NRW, we have implemented measures to ensure that any odour from the site is minimised and does not affect the surrounding community.
We once again apologise for the impact this has had on local residents and our community.
However, whilst the broadcast stated that Public Health Wales has recently said that “hydrogen sulphide levels had exceeded safe levels”, in fact the levels recorded have only exceeded those associated with odour nuisance, not safety thresholds.
It should also be noted that Public Health Wales’ statement relates to a snapshot from approximately three months ago when samples were tested. Independent sampling and testing has been taking place for some time and we welcome updated sampling and testing to reassure the community.
Having reviewed footage of the alleged leachate leak captured by drone footage, we can advise that this shows a discharge into a containment ditch for surface water collection, and not into a waterway. This was not reported as such in the broadcast.
We understand that NRW is investigating water pollution in the area more generally which is likely to involve a number of local operators as well as other facilities further upstream. It is inappropriate to comment further until the investigation is concluded.
Waste Management
Withyhedge Landfill site does not knowingly accept non-conforming waste. This includes plasterboard, wood, tyres, and metal girders; Our waste acceptance procedures are stringent to prevent such materials from entering our site.
Our leachate is managed in strict accordance with our leachate management plan. We should make clear that the re-circulation of leachate is an accepted practice and not a violation of our permit. In addition, in excess of 35,000 tonnes of leachate has been removed from site in the past 12 months for treatment.
We are not aware of any ongoing inquiry into waste mis-categorisation or tax improprieties; however, we are committed to working with regulators to address any issues that may arise.
It should be noted that the claim in the programme that a typical artic load is between 30 and 40 tonnes is incorrect. The average load weight at our site is between 20 and 25 tonnes.
Drone footage
Dauson Environmental Group categorically denies the allegations of gunshots on our site. We would suggest that the investigators confused the noise with automated ‘bird scarers’ which are deployed on site
WITHYHEDGE LANDFILL SITE UPDATE : 31 MAY 2024
As confirmed in our statement on May 10th, the Withyhedge landfill site continues to be closed to all waste inputs, with the exception of engineering materials, to accommodate further engineering works.
Nearly £5 million has now been invested into the site over recent months and we will continue to invest as we take all necessary actions relating to previous issues on site. NRW continues to be updated, as the statutory regulator, and fully informed of our work and plans as we proceed.
For further information, in conjunction with this statement, RML has released a more detailed statement regarding the situation at the Withyhedge landfill site since Autumn 2023.
The continued work has resulted in the dissipation of landfill odour, and we anticipate this will continue to be the case going forward, notwithstanding the presence of other odour sources not related to Withyhedge Landfill Site in the vicinity.
In response to a statement from Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) on May 29th 2024, RML wishes to confirm that the information requested by PCC has yet to be provided to them because the legal basis of their request is part of ongoing litigation and challenge in Court. As this legal process is ongoing, it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
RML will continue to supply updates as necessary.
UPDATE: WITHYHEDGE LANDFILL PROGRESS
In the Autumn of 2023 RML anticipated the availability of void space becoming available in Cell 8 for continued waste disposal activities. Due to construction delays the void space was not available for disposal until late December 2023 and accordingly wastes were stored during the interim period on top of the cell that was active at the time (Cell 7). Wastes were deposited between October 2023 and January 2024 and were subsequently moved into Cell 8 in Jan and Feb 2024, allowing Cell 7 to be capped.
Odour complaints from the community around the site commenced in October 2023 and continued through the autumn. The odours were linked to the emission of landfill gas from the site containing hydrogen sulphide, a particularly smelly gas even at low concentrations. The production of landfill gas is ordinarily a relatively slow process, so it was thought likely that the odour originated in older deeper wastes; accordingly, NRW issued a Regulation 36 Notice requiring Cell 7 to be taken down to its final levels and capped in a short time period. The expectation at the time was that the deeper wastes would be contained by the cap and the gas collection system would draw off the gas and destroy it in the engines or flare.
After the removal of the stored wastes and the installation of a capping scheme and gas collection system on Cell 7 in early March 2024, the first indications emerged that Cell 8 was now producing hydrogen sulphide gas. This was unexpected, as the waste was all less than 6 months old and comprised conventional wastes that usually do not produce hydrogen sulphide gas in great concentration, or landfill gas in very short time periods. It appears that the wastes deposited originally within and on top of Cell 7 had a composition that resulted in the rapid production of landfill gas and hydrogen sulphide., The only option to contain the gas and mitigate the odour was to cap Cell 8 even though it was only partly filled.
NRW served a second Regulation36 Notice requiring capping works and gas collection systems to be installed on parts of Cell 8 but RML took the decision to cease waste inputs and to cap the entire cell. Over the coming months (and possibly longer) RML will monitor gas composition within Cells 7 and 8, along with other previous cells. Only when the gas composition reveals that it is safe to do so, will the temporary cap be incrementally peeled back to allow Cell 8 to be filled to its final levels before being permanently capped. It is expected that Cell 8 will be out of use for some time before conditions are right for the cell to be completed.
With Cell 8 out of use, Cell 9 is under construction. Cell 9, however, cannot accept wastes until those wastes that caused the rapid gassing along with hydrogen sulphide production are identified and prevented from entering the site. The chemistry of the incoming wastes has been examined to find substances that can combine to cause the problem, and a number of candidates have been identified. More may yet be identified. These wastes comprise only a small proportion of the wastes disposed of at the site but we are confident, having investigated matters, they are responsible for the issues seen. The bulk of the wastes appear to be free of contamination with the substances that give rise to hydrogen sulphide. Nevertheless, only when the company and the relevant statutory Regulators are content that the site can operate without a repeat of the previous issues will disposal activities commence in Cell 9.
Cell 9 will only accept wastes that have been screened and tested for constituents that produce hydrogen sulphide. Waste acceptance procedures will be agreed with NRW to ensure that robust exclusion methods are applied at the site. As well as carefully inspecting and testing incoming loads, Cell 9 will also be filled differently and monitored very closely to provide confidence that the waste mass is not generating and emitting unacceptable levels of landfill gas. The cell will be developed with inbuilt gas collection systems and pathways for gas to escape and will be designed out to ensure full containment. The facility to completely cover the wastes and activate effective gas extraction will be standing-by, on site, so that should the early signs be identified in the site monitoring, effective intervention can be immediate.
RML operated the site from March 2022 until autumn 2023 without complaints. It intends to operate the site for its remaining life on that basis and will continue to strive to do so.
WITHYHEDGE LANDFILL SITE UPDATE : 10 MAY 2024
RML has continued to update Natural Resources Wales (NRW) of progress at the Withyhedge Landfill site, remaining on track to complete all planned works by 14th May.
We publicly acknowledge and thank the dedication and hard work of our individual staff members who have worked to achieve these actions.
Once work is completed on 14th, the Withyhedge landfill site will be closed to all waste inputs, with the exception of engineering materials, from Wednesday 15th May pending the completion of further engineering works.
NRW has been fully informed of our plans and we will maintain communication with them as we proceed with these works.
RML will continue to supply updates as necessary.