After months of foul stenches detected around a Pilsworth landfill site, the smell has now gone, according to the site operators. The landfill has caused odours that have been hot in the nostrils of many across Bury and Rochdale, causing some to feel physically sick. There have been health concerns relating to this – which the Environment Agency (EA) says they are monitoring.
Valencia Waste, who run the landfill site next to the M66, has been subject to a wide range of criticism, with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joining Rochdale and Bury’s council leaders calling for Valencia to have their environmental permit for waste activities removed. A Valencia spokesperson said: “We have undertaken significant engineering work at our Pilsworth South site, installing capping and enhancing gas capture infrastructure. The site has no areas of uncapped waste, and the landfill gas collection system is functioning well.
“Our internal and third-party contractor monitoring has found that there is no odour from our site detectable in nearby communities. We will continue to undertake this monitoring and respond as required should this situation change. “Valencia would like to thank local people for their patience while we undertook our engineering works.
” During a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on March 22, Mr Burnham said the situation was ‘not acceptable in the slightest’. He added he has met with officials from the EA and UK Health Security Agen.
