Councillors address odor from Hafod Landfill following complaints. Closure looms if issues persist.
Locals and politicians complain about the smell. Protests demanded action from Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW is working with Enovert, the site operator. They want them to follow permit rules, and NRW checks the site and its odor regularly.
NRW stated the operator is improving gas use, which should reduce the bad smells. Even with some odor, permits aren’t breached if measures are taken. The community still feels affected and NRW will assess if further actions are needed. They are also reviewing the management plan.
Despite efforts, many complaints still come in. January saw 240 complaints about Hafod Quarry, and the latter part of 2024 had about 300 complaints.
Actions were agreed after a council motion. They include assessing community concerns, reviewing environmental performance, and a full examination of alternatives. Effective communication is also a goal, and finally, they will review and report progress.
Councillor Bithell discussed implementation with officers. Monitoring equipment will be installed soon, gathering helpful data. Officers also met with health groups, and a stakeholder group is being created that will include local officials and NRW.
The motion supports current laws. The council needs evidence of permit breaches and must investigate any issues. This is important for future legal action, and if no changes occur, they might shut the site.
The council will discuss Hafod Quarry on April 29th. NRW, health officials, and Enovert are invited. They will provide updates on the landfill work, and timelines will also be discussed.