Over 260 complaints have been made about landfill sites in Wales – on average - every year since 2001.
According to information obtained by Shadow Minister for the Environment and Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, over 3,200 complaints and duplicate complaints have been made since April 2001.
Almost 60 sites are listed by the Minister for Natural Resources in his response to a written assembly question from Mr George. Those receiving the most complaints include Llandullas Landfill in Conwy, Trecatti Landfill in Merthyr Tydfil, and Hafod Landfill in Wrexham.
In Powys, one of the most problematic landfill sites has been Bryn Posteg, near Llanidloes. Since 2001 there were 81 discrete incidents and 52 duplicate complaints, which have had an impact on land, air and water quality. So much so that court action has been brought against the site culminating in a fine of £45,000 – the largest levied against any offending site in Wales.
Mr George said:
“While some complaints regarding landfill sites are inevitable, these figures are startling in their severity and highlight a number of problem sites across Wales.
“Hundreds of complaints and duplicate complaints at one site clearly requires further investigation, clarity and a guarantee that improvements have been made.
“I know the communities that live around the Bryn Posteg site in Llanidloes, will want assurances that the site is now operating safely and is being properly managed.
“While many of these complaints may go back a number of years, these figures are worrying enough to deserve a statement from the Minister and clarification of his intentions.
“New technologies – such as anaerobic digestion – which reduce the amount of landfill gas in the atmosphere, are not being properly supported by the Welsh Government.
“The First Minister’s recent ‘energy vision’ for Wales contained almost no reference to this technology – a glaring omission that must be clarified.”