Residents near the Withyhedge landfill site in Pembrokeshire have expressed their discontent towards the landfill operator’s assurance that the obnoxious smells emanating from the site have been resolved. Dauson Environmental Group updated the public on their long-standing issues with foul smells arising from the landfill, but Colin Barnett, a member of the “Stop the Stink” campaign, debunked the assertion, citing that the community experiences problems every day. Natural Resources Wales stressed the urgency of “compelling the operator to address the source of emissions and odours from the site” and affirmed residents’ reports since October 2023.
Since October 2023, when residents started submitting their worries about the landfill, regulators have issued two enforcement notices, the latest requiring the operator to settle the concerns before May 14th. However, Barnett maintained that the issue continues, with the smell affecting the locals’ mental health and worsening asthma and other underlying medical conditions. Furthermore, despite the sporadically improved air quality, the smell should not penetrate beyond the border of the landfills, he insisted.
Public Health Wales released a report last week indicating that hydrogen sulphide in the air around the site surpassed World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for odour nuisance. The report also reaffirmed advice to residents to shut their windows and doors when the smell arises and seek medical attention if they become ill. Claire Holman, head of the Institute of Air Quality Management, urged NRW to act to stop the odour problem that could last for years in landfills, typically caused by “slow to respond” regulators.
Dauson Environmental Group, in response to the recent Channel 4 Dispatches programme, apologised to the locals and pledged to reduce odours and impact on the neighbourhood by implementing NRW-recommended measures. David Neal, Dauson Environmental Group’s head, donated £200,000 to the First Minister Vaughan Gething’s leadership campaign, sparking controversy and drawing attention to his previous conviction of illegal waste disposal on a conservation site. The NRW spokeswoman assured residents of their ongoing odour assessments at the site
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