Expert Links Pandemic DIY Increase to Landfill’s Foul Odors

An environmental sustainability chemist and former senior lecturer has suggested that strong smells emanating from a contentious landfill site could be connected to an increase in home improvement projects undertaken by individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reports regarding Walleys Quarry in Silverdale, Staffordshire – which received a closure directive effective Friday – saw a substantial rise during and following periods of coronavirus lockdowns. When issuing the closure notice, the Environment Agency characterized the site’s management as inadequate, stating it had utilized all prior enforcement strategies at the facility where gases were harmful and at times exceeded emission level guidelines – a situation some activists associated with local health problems. Dr. Sharon George, formerly an instructor at Keele University, mentioned visiting the location with students and observing it as tidy and efficiently run, proposing that a greater volume of plasterboard sent to landfills in 2020 might be responsible for a surge in foul odors. She stated, “One of the materials that is particularly bad for producing odours and awful emissions is plasterboard.” She added, “That’s one of the theories behind why Walleys Quarry got worse at that time.” Dr. George explained that the landfill occupied a low-lying geographical position, and that certain gases originating from the site possessed considerable density. She elaborated, “They react with water in the atmosphere, so some of the gases you smell can be quite awful and not very good for our health.” She further noted, “It’s why, on some days when it’s colder and muggy and a bit misty, you can smell it more.” Dr. George further commented, “With any landfill, you’re putting things into the ground – and when you put things into the ground, if they can they will start to rot. When they start to rot they’re going to give off gases.” She considered Walleys Quarry’s closeness to residential areas a significant contributor to the volume of grievances stemming from its activities. She remarked, “If you’ve got a gas that people can smell, they’re going to report it much more than perhaps a pollutant that might go unnoticed.” Rebecca Currie, a local resident and activist, described the closure notice issued to Walleys Quarry as “absolutely amazing.” Her son, Matthew, experiences breathing difficulties due to being born prematurely with chronic lung disease, and Ms. Currie asserts that the site has exacerbated his symptoms. She expressed, “I never thought this day was going to happen.” She continued, “We fought and fought for years.” Speaking to BBC Midlands Today, she stated, “Our community have suffered. We’ve got kids who are really poorly, people have moved homes.” Reports concerning Walleys Quarry submitted to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council surpassed 700 in November, representing the highest figure recorded since 2021, as per council leader Simon Tagg. The Environment Agency (EA), tasked with overseeing landfill sites, indicated its determination that continued operation at the location could lead to “significant long-term pollution.” A representative for Walley’s Quarry Ltd stated that the company refuted the EA’s allegations of inadequate management and intended to contest the closure notice. Dr. George remarked that she thought the EA was probably prioritizing caution and public safety, noting that safety regulations were stringent. She identified a nationwide scarcity of landfill capacity as a wider problem requiring attention. She commented, “As people, we just keep using stuff and then have nowhere to put it, and then when we end up putting it in places like Walleys Quarry that is next to houses, I think that’s where the problems are.” Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.