Express & Star

Cannock tip complaints drop after work to 'cap' site

The number of complaints about the smell from a Cannock tip has reduced after work to 'cap' areas has been completed.

Published
Poplars Landfill

Previously residents have been unable to leave their homes and thousands have signed a petition for action to be taken over the smell coming from Poplars Landfill. Work started last month to place plastic capping on the site and MP Amanda Milling has met with Biffa to be updated.

Ms Milling said: "Last week there was an update meeting following Biffa’s plan to address the smell emanating from Poplars Landfill.

"Biffa have now capped the areas they believe are causing the smell and more gas extraction infrastructure will be going in over the next few days.

"The Environment Agency confirmed that the number of complaints they have been receiving has reduced. I hope that this means that may well now start to see the end of this issue. The remaining complaints appear to be coming from a small geographical area."

Biffa will also change the routes used on the site in order to cap more areas, Ms Milling said.

"Moving forward, Biffa are going to change the routes their lorries travel along the site in order to cap more areas," she added. "They will also reduce the operational tipping area to ensure there is as little surface area as possible being tipped, which should help reduce further landfill gas escaping.

"The air monitoring equipment installed by the Environment Agency will remain in place, and the data collected will be shared with the public when the Environment Agency are able to do so.

"Biffa and the Environment Agency are still encouraging people to continue to report incidents. To do this, call the free 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. When reporting the odour they will ask you to assess the strength of the smell on a scale of 0 to 6.

"Timley and accurate reporting is essential in order to identify any source. The Environment Agency and Biffa frequently follow up these reports in person and go to where the smell has been reported.

"As always, if anyone wants to discuss this situation with me, they can book an appointment by calling my office on 01543 877142 or pop in to my Hednesford office between 12 noon and 4pm and discuss the issue with one of my caseworkers. You can also email me on amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk.

"If the smell continues another site meeting will be arranged to discuss future action."