More than 100 reports of foul odours were made over the weekend as work continues to tackle ongoing issues at the Lower Compton landfill site near Calne.
In an update published on Monday (22nd June), the Environment Agency said staff had been carrying out proactive monitoring throughout the weekend to corroborate reports from residents.
The agency said it continues to ensure site operator Hills carries out improvement works at the landfill to the required standard. Progress has been made on permanent capping works, with a subsoil restoration layer now spread across around 60 per cent of the capped area to protect the clay beneath.
The Environment Agency said it expects odour levels to improve once the works are completed and that additional monitoring will be carried out to assess any changes.
Engineering work at modern landfill sites must be completed under a Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) plan, which is approved by the Environment Agency before work begins.
Inspections include assessing field testing and laboratory sample results to ensure clay materials meet specifications, carrying out site walkovers to check work is being completed in line with approved plans, and reviewing records to ensure the required level of supervision is in place.
The Environment Agency said contractors have been required to rectify and repeat any work that has not met the required standard or where fugitive emissions have been identified.
The update also addressed concerns about a recent fire at a neighbouring recycling centre, confirming that the incident was unrelated to the permanent capping works at Lower Compton and had not affected or delayed the remedial works.
Further details were also provided about air quality monitoring taking place in Calne.
A Mobile Monitoring Facility remains in place at Priestley Primary School. The Environment Agency said the location was chosen based on a range of factors, including the likely route hydrogen sulphide could travel into the town, areas where large numbers of odour complaints have been received, prevailing wind direction, local topography and the availability of suitable infrastructure.
The monitoring facility measures ambient air quality, including methane and hydrogen sulphide levels, as well as weather conditions such as wind direction, wind speed, temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Data collected from the facility has now been sent to the UK Health Security Agency, which will carry out an independent assessment of any potential health impacts.
Photo credit: Environment Agency
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